Surface cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An upright surface cleaning apparatus such as an extractor has an upright section moveably mounted to a surface cleaning head. The upright section comprises a first stage liquid separator and a second stage cyclone separator, wherein the cyclone separator is positioned above and downstream from the first stage liquid separator when the upright section is in the storage position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/559,151, filed Sep. 15, 2017,the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter of the teachings described herein relates toa surface cleaning apparatus which may be operable as at least one of asweeper, a vacuum cleaner, a hard floor cleaning apparatus and anextractor and optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus may be operableas two or more of these apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extractors are a type of surface cleaning apparatus which have areservoir to apply a cleaning solution to, e.g., carpet and a nozzle toextract the used cleaning solution from the carpet. A separation systemis provided to separate the used cleaning solution, which is entrainedin dirty air that is drawn into the extractor, and to store the usedcleaning solution in a used reservoir. Typically, the nozzle of anextractor is not designed to remove large particulate matter from carpet(e.g., popcorn) and accordingly, a carpet may have to be cleaned using avacuum cleaner prior to using an extractor to clean the carpet.

Various different surface cleaning apparatus are known which usedifferent cleaning stages that are arranged in series. These include EP1707094 (Kim et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,289 (Oh et at.) and U.S. Pat.No. 5,135,552 (Weistra). Various different extractor designs are alsoknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more detaileddescription that follows and not to limit or define any claimed or asyet unclaimed invention. One or more inventions may reside in anycombination or sub-combination of the elements or process stepsdisclosed in any part of this document including its claims and figures.

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatusmay be operable as a traditional vacuum cleaner (e.g., the dirty airinlet may be configured as a traditional vacuum cleaner dirty air inletto draw in particulate matter, including larger particulate matter,which may then be removed from an air stream. This may be referred to asa vacuum cleaning mode or a dry cleaning mode as a cleaning solution maynot yet have been applied to the surface being cleaned. The surfacecleaning apparatus may also be operable in an extractor or wet cleaningmode, in which it is operable to treat an incoming dirty fluid streamthat contains liquid and may also include dirt and other solid debris.Providing a single apparatus that can be operable in both wet and drycleaning modes may allow a user to use a single apparatus to clean asurface (e.g., carpet) prior to applying a cleaning solution to cleanthe surface and then to use the same apparatus to apply a cleaningsolution to the surface and to remove the cleaning solution from thesurface. An advantage of this design is that a user need not use orstore two separate machines.

In order to operate in an extractor mode, the surface cleaning apparatusmay include a liquid distribution system, including an onboard liquidreservoir and a spray or application nozzle, whereby the apparatus mayapply one or more of water, a carpet cleaning solution, a hard floorcleaning solution and/or any other desired liquid to the floor orsurface to be cleaned. Accordingly, prior to applying the liquid, thesame surface cleaning apparatus may be used to vacuum the surface tohelp remove at least some of the solid debris before the liquid isapplied. The liquid may then be applied and, as needed, allowed toremain on the surface for a pre-determined period of time, and thesurface cleaning apparatus may then be used in its extractor mode toextract the liquid from the surface. If the apparatus is not configuredto include an onboard liquid distribution system, liquid may be appliedto the surface using a separate apparatus.

In accordance with one broad aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus may be provided with twotreatment stages. The first treatment stage may be designed to removeliquid from an air stream (e.g., a momentum separator). The secondtreatment stage may be designed to remove solid particulate matter fromthe air stream (e.g., one or more cyclones in parallel). It will beappreciated that some solid particulate matter may be removed in thefirst treatment stage and that some liquid may be removed in the secondtreatment stage. In accordance with this aspect, the second or solidparticulate matter treatment stage may be positioned above the first orliquid treatment stage. An advantage of this design is that the liquidtreatment stage may be located at a lower elevation on the surfacecleaning apparatus. Due to the volume of liquid an extractor is designedto remove, liquid requires substantially more energy to be drawnupwardly to a liquid treatment stage than entrained solid particulatematter. Accordingly, the energy requirement of a surface cleaningapparatus may be reduced by positioning the liquid treatment stage belowthe solid particulate matter treatment stage. Such a design isparticularly advantageous if the surface treatment apparatus is anupright surface treatment apparatus wherein the treatment stages areprovided on the upright section. A further advantage is that, if thetreatment stages are at least partially or fully stacked on each otherin a generally vertical arrangement, the overall foot print of thesurface cleaning apparatus may be reduced.

In accordance with this broad aspect, there is provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a front end having a dirty        fluid inlet; and,    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section comprising a front side, a rear side, a first stage        liquid separator having a liquid separator fluid inlet        downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid separator        fluid outlet, a second stage cyclone separator comprising a        cyclone chamber having a cyclone chamber fluid inlet and a        cyclone chamber fluid outlet and a suction motor downstream from        the second stage cyclone separator, the suction motor having a        suction motor inlet end, wherein the cyclone separator is        positioned above and downstream from the first stage liquid        separator when the upright section is in the storage position.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator may include amomentum separator.

In any embodiment, the suction motor may be positioned above the cycloneseparator.

In any embodiment, the liquid separator fluid outlet may be positionedat an upper end of the liquid separator and the cyclone chamber fluidoutlet may be positioned at an upper end of the cyclone chamber and thesuction motor inlet end may face towards the cyclone chamber fluidoutlet.

In any embodiment, the liquid separator fluid inlet may be provided in alower surface of the liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the second stage cyclone separator may include a dirtcollection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and the cyclonechamber has a dirt outlet at an upper end of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, when the upright section is in the storage position,at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be positioned at asame elevation as a separated liquid reservoir (separated liquidcontainer) of the liquid separator.

In any embodiment, a fluid passage may extend from the liquid separatorfluid outlet to the cyclone chamber fluid inlet, and at least a portionof the fluid passage that extends upwardly when the upright section isin the storage position may be located at the front side of the uprightsection.

In accordance with this broad aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a front end having a dirty        fluid inlet; and,    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section comprising a front side, a rear side, a first stage        liquid separator having a liquid separator fluid inlet        downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid separator        fluid outlet, a second stage cyclone separator positioned        downstream from the liquid separator and comprising a cyclone        chamber having a cyclone chamber fluid inlet and a cyclone        chamber fluid outlet and a suction motor downstream from the        second stage cyclone separator, the suction motor having a        suction motor inlet end and a suction motor axis of rotation,    -   wherein the upright section includes a fluid passage from the        liquid separator fluid outlet to the cyclone chamber fluid        inlet, wherein at least a portion of the fluid passage that        extends upwardly when the upright section is in the storage        position is located at the front side of the upright section.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator may include amomentum separator.

In any embodiment, the cyclone separator may be positioned above thefirst stage liquid separator and the suction motor is positioned abovethe cyclone separator.

In any embodiment, the cyclone separator may be positioned above thefirst stage liquid separator and the liquid separator fluid outlet maybe positioned at an upper end of the liquid separator. The cyclonechamber fluid outlet may be positioned at an upper end of the cyclonechamber and the suction motor inlet end may face towards the cyclonechamber fluid outlet.

In any embodiment, the liquid separator fluid inlet may be provided in alower surface of the liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the second stage cyclone separator may include a dirtcollection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and the cyclonechamber may have a dirt outlet at an upper end of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, when the upright section is in the storage position,at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be positioned at asame elevation as a separated liquid reservoir of the liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the cyclone separator may be positioned above thefirst stage liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the cyclone separator may be positioned overlying thefirst stage liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the suction motor axis of rotation may intersect thefirst stage liquid separator and the second stage cyclone separator.

In accordance with another broad aspect of the teachings describeherein, which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, a liquid collection chamber for receiving liquidseparated by the first treatment stage and a solid collection chamberfor receiving solid particulate matter separated by the second treatmentstage are emptyable concurrently. An advantage of this design is that itmay facilitate emptying of the treatment unit (which comprises the firstand second treatment stages). For example, the solid collection chamberand the liquid collection container may be simultaneously openable.Optionally, a cyclone chamber in the treatment unit may also be openablesimultaneously with the solid collection chamber and the liquidcollection container.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a front end having a dirty        fluid inlet; and,    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section comprising:        -   (i) a first stage liquid separator having a liquid            collection container, a separated liquid separator fluid            inlet downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid            separator fluid outlet;        -   (ii) a second stage cyclone separator comprising a cyclone            chamber and a solid collection chamber exterior to the            cyclone chamber, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone            chamber fluid inlet, a cyclone chamber dirt outlet in            communication with the solid collection chamber and a            cyclone chamber fluid outlet; and,        -   (iii) a suction motor downstream from the second stage            cyclone separator, wherein the liquid collection container            and the solid collection chamber are emptyable concurrently.

In any embodiment, when the upright section is in the storage position,the solid collection chamber may be positioned at a same elevation asthe liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber may be positionedlaterally beside the liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the liquidcollection container may be removable concurrently from the uprightsection.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the liquidcollection container may be removable from the upright section in aclosed configuration.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator and the second stagecyclone separator may be removable concurrently from the uprightsection.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcontainer are of a unitary construction.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcollection container may be integrally formed.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator and the second stagecyclone separator may be removable in a sealed configuration other thanthe liquid separator fluid inlet and the cyclone chamber fluid outlet.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcollection container may have an openable top.

In any embodiment, the openable top may include the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber may be positionedlaterally beside the separated liquid collection container and thecyclone chamber may have a cyclone axis of rotation that intersects theseparated liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber may be positionedlaterally beside the liquid collection container and the cyclone chamberoverlies the liquid collection container.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising

-   -   (a) a first stage liquid separator having a liquid collection        container, a separated liquid separator fluid inlet downstream        from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid separator fluid outlet;    -   (b) a second stage cyclone separator comprising a cyclone        chamber and a solid collection chamber exterior to the cyclone        chamber, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone chamber fluid        inlet, a cyclone chamber dirt outlet in communication with the        solid collection chamber and a cyclone chamber fluid outlet;        and,    -   (c) a suction motor downstream from the second stage cyclone        separator,    -   wherein the liquid collection container and the solid collection        chamber are emptyable concurrently.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber may be positionedlaterally beside the liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcollection container may be removable concurrently from the surfacecleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcollection container may be removable from the surface cleaningapparatus in a closed configuration.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator and the second stagecyclone separator may be removable concurrently from the surfacecleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, the first stage liquid separator and the second stagecyclone separator may be removable in a sealed configuration other thanthe separated liquid separator fluid inlet and the cyclone chamber fluidoutlet.

In any embodiment, the solid collection chamber and the separated liquidcollection container may have an openable top and the openable top mayinclude the cyclone chamber.

In accordance with another broad aspect of the teachings describeherein, which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus has two or more differentbrushes (e.g., a hard floor cleaning brush and a carpet cleaning brush)and a liquid (e.g., water or a cleaning solution) may be applied to aselected brush. Further, a different liquid may be applied to eachbrush. For example, in a hard floor cleaning mode a liquid, which may bea hard floor cleaning solution, may be applied to the hard floorcleaning brush and in a carpet cleaning mode a liquid, which may be acarpet cleaning solution, may be applied to the carpet cleaning brush.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a hard floor cleaning brush        and a carpet cleaning brush; and,    -   (b) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid,    -   wherein surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a hard floor        cleaning configuration in which the liquid is delivered from the        at least one nozzle to the soft brush bar, and a carpet cleaning        configuration in which the liquid is delivered from the at least        one nozzle to the carpet cleaning brush

In any embodiment, the at least one spray nozzle may include at leastone first nozzle that delivers the liquid to the hard floor cleaningbrush and at least one second nozzle that delivers the liquid to thecarpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, the liquid may include a hard floor cleaning solutionand a carpet cleaning solution, wherein the at least one first nozzledelivers the hard floor cleaning solution to the hard floor cleaningbrush and the at least one second nozzle delivers the carpet cleaningsolution to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, the at least one first nozzle may be positioned todeliver the hard floor cleaning solution to the hard floor cleaningbrush and the at least one second nozzle may be positioned to deliverthe carpet cleaning solution to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, an actuator may be operably connected to the cleaningsolution delivery system wherein, in a hard floor cleaning actuationmode, the at least one first nozzle delivers the liquid to the hardfloor cleaning brush and in a carpet cleaning actuation mode, the atleast one second nozzle delivers the liquid to the carpet cleaningbrush.

In any embodiment, the liquid may include a hard floor cleaning solutionand a carpet cleaning solution wherein, in a hard floor cleaningactuation mode, the at least one first nozzle delivers the hard floorcleaning solution to the hard floor cleaning brush and in a carpetcleaning actuation mode, the at least one second nozzle delivers thecarpet cleaning solution to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, in the hard floor cleaning actuation mode, the hardfloor cleaning brush may be rotated and the carpet cleaning brush may bestationary, and in the carpet cleaning actuation mode, the hard floorcleaning brush may be stationary and the carpet cleaning brush may berotated.

In any embodiment, in both the hard floor cleaning actuation mode andthe carpet cleaning actuation mode, both the hard floor cleaning brushand the carpet cleaning brush may be rotated.

In any embodiment, the at least one spray nozzle may be moveably mountedwhereby, in the hard floor cleaning configuration, the at least onespray nozzle is positioned to deliver the liquid to the soft brush bar,and in the carpet cleaning configuration, the at least one spray nozzleis positioned to deliver the liquid to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, the liquid may include a hard floor cleaning solutionand a carpet cleaning solution and the at least one spray nozzle may bemoveably mounted whereby, in the hard floor cleaning configuration, theat least one spray nozzle is positioned to deliver the hard floorcleaning solution to the soft brush bar, and in the carpet cleaningconfiguration, the at least one spray nozzle is positioned to deliverthe carpet cleaning solution to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, an actuator may be operably connected to the cleaningsolution delivery system wherein, in a hard floor cleaning actuationmode, the at least one nozzle may deliver the liquid to the hard floorcleaning brush and in a carpet cleaning actuation mode, the at least onenozzle may deliver the liquid to the carpet cleaning brush.

In any embodiment, in the hard floor cleaning configuration the liquidmay delivered at a first rate, and in the carpet cleaning configurationthe liquid may be delivered at a second rate that is faster than thefirst rate. For example, in the hard floor cleaning configuration, theliquid may be delivered at a rate of 10-100 mL/min and in the carpetcleaning configuration, the liquid may be delivered at a rate of atleast 100 mL/min.

In any embodiment, in the hard floor cleaning configuration, the hardfloor cleaning brush and the carpet cleaning brush may be rotated at afirst rate of rotation and in the carpet cleaning configuration, thehard floor cleaning brush and the carpet cleaning brush may be rotatedat a second rate of rotation that is faster than the first rate ofrotation. For example, in the hard floor cleaning configuration, thehard floor cleaning brush and the carpet cleaning brush may be rotatedat a rate of rotation of between about 1000-2400 RPM and in the carpetcleaning configuration, the hard floor cleaning brush and the carpetcleaning brush may be rotated at a rate of rotation of between about2400-5000 RPM.

In any embodiment, the liquid may include a hard floor cleaning solutionand a carpet cleaning solution and the cleaning solution delivery systemmay include a hard floor cleaning solution reservoir and a carpetcleaning solution reservoir.

In any embodiment, the liquid may include a hard floor cleaning solutionand a carpet cleaning solution and the cleaning solution delivery systemmay include a clean water reservoir and a mixing system for selectivelypreparing carpet the hard floor cleaning solution and the carpetcleaning solution.

In accordance with another broad aspect of the teachings describeherein, which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein a surface cleaning apparatus may have one or moreliquid delivery system operable to alternately deliver different liquids(e.g., a carpet cleaning solution and a hard floor cleaning solution).Optionally, the liquid delivery system may have different conduits(which may be removable) for the different liquids which may bedelivered (e.g., a water delivery line, a hard floor cleaning solutionline and/or a carpet cleaning solution line). An advantage of thisdesign is that different solutions may not be mixed.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system operable to alternately deliver a        carpet cleaning solution and a hard floor cleaning solution;        and,    -   (b) an actuator operably connected to the cleaning solution        delivery system wherein, in a hard floor cleaning actuation        mode, the cleaning solution delivery system delivers the hard        floor cleaning solution to at least one delivery nozzle and in a        carpet cleaning actuation mode, the cleaning solution delivery        system delivers the carpet cleaning solution to the at least one        delivery nozzle.

In any embodiment, the actuator may be manually operated by a user.

In any embodiment, the actuator may include a detector operable todetermine a surface that is being cleaned.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may include a carpetcleaning solution reservoir and a hard floor cleaning solutionreservoir.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may include a carpetcleaning solution delivery line extending from the carpet cleaningsolution reservoir to the at least one delivery nozzle and a hard floorcleaning solution delivery line extending from the hard floor solutionreservoir to the at least one delivery nozzle.

In any embodiment, the at least one delivery nozzle may include at leastone hard floor delivery nozzle and at least one carpet delivery nozzle.The carpet cleaning solution delivery line may extend from the carpetcleaning solution reservoir to the at least one carpet delivery nozzleand the hard floor cleaning solution delivery line may extend from thehard floor solution reservoir to the at least one hard floor deliverynozzle.

In any embodiment, each of the carpet cleaning solution reservoir andthe hard floor cleaning solution reservoir may be removable from thesurface cleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, the carpet cleaning solution reservoir may beremovable from the surface cleaning apparatus with the carpet cleaningsolution delivery line and the hard floor cleaning solution reservoirmay be removable from the surface cleaning apparatus with the hard floorcleaning solution delivery line.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may include a waterreservoir, a hard floor cleaning concentrate container and a carpetcleaning concentrate container.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may include a mixerchamber, a carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line extending from thecarpet cleaning concentrate container, a hard floor cleaning concentratedelivery line extending from the hard floor concentrate container and awater delivery line extending from the water reservoir. The carpetcleaning concentrate delivery line, the hard floor cleaning concentratedelivery line and the water delivery line may be in fluid communicationwith the mixer nozzle.

In any embodiment, the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line, thehard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line and the water deliveryline may each extend to a position selected from an inlet end of themixer chamber or a position adjacent the inlet end of the mixer chamber.

In any embodiment, the mixer chamber may be upstream of the at least onedelivery nozzle.

In any embodiment, the at least one delivery nozzle may include themixer chamber.

In any embodiment, at least one pump may be operably coupled to anexterior of each of the carpet cleaning concentrate delivery line andthe hard floor cleaning concentrate delivery line. The at least one pumpmay include a peristaltic pump.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may mix the hard floorcleaning concentrate with water at a first concentrate to water rate andmay mix the carpet cleaning concentrate container with water at a secondconcentrate to water rate that differs to the first rate.

In any embodiment, the cleaning solution delivery system may also beoperable to deliver clean water to the at least one delivery nozzle.

In accordance this broad aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising a liquid delivery system comprising awater reservoir, a first compartment for receiving a first cleaningsolution concentrate, a mixer chamber, a first cleaning solutionconcentrate delivery line extending from the first compartment and awater delivery line extending from the water reservoir, wherein thefirst cleaning solution concentrate delivery line and the water deliveryline are in fluid communication with the mixer nozzle

In any embodiment, an actuator may be operably connected to the cleaningsolution delivery system. In a first actuation mode, the cleaningsolution delivery system may deliver a cleaning solution prepared fromwater and the first cleaning solution concentrate to at least onedelivery nozzle and in a second actuation mode, the cleaning solutiondelivery system may deliver water to the at least one delivery nozzle.

In any embodiment, a second compartment for receiving a second cleaningsolution concentrate and a second cleaning solution concentrate deliveryline may extend from the second compartment. The second cleaningsolution concentrate delivery line may be in fluid communication withthe mixer nozzle.

In any embodiment, an actuator may be operably connected to the cleaningsolution delivery system. In a hard floor cleaning actuation mode, thecleaning solution delivery system may deliver a hard floor cleaningsolution prepared from water and the first cleaning solution concentrateto at least one delivery nozzle and, in a carpet cleaning actuationmode, the cleaning solution delivery system may deliver a carpetcleaning solution prepared from the water and the second cleaningsolution concentrate to the at least one delivery nozzle.

In any embodiment, the first compartment may be a refillablecompartment.

In any embodiment, the first compartment may removably receive a firstcartridge containing the first cleaning solution concentrate.

In any embodiment, the first cartridge may be removable with the firstcleaning solution concentrate delivery line.

In any embodiment, at least one pump may be operably coupled to anexterior of each of the first cleaning solution concentrate deliveryline and water delivery line. The at least one pump may be a peristalticpump.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus which may include a liquid delivery system having afirst compartment for receiving a first cleaning solution, a firstcleaning solution delivery line extending from the first compartment andat least one pump operably coupled to an exterior of the first cleaningsolution delivery line.

In any embodiment, the at least one pump may include a peristaltic pump.

In any embodiment, the first compartment may removably receive a firstcartridge containing the first cleaning solution.

In any embodiment, the first cartridge may be removable with the firstcleaning solution delivery line.

In accordance with another broad aspect of the teachings describeherein, which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein a surface cleaning apparatus may have a solid andliquid separation stage including a combined solid and liquid separatorand a collection chamber that receives both solids and liquids from thecombined solid and liquid separator. The collection chamber may besubdivided by a water permeable member, such as a screen, so as toenable the separated liquid to be stored separate from the separatedsolid particulate matter. An advantage of this design is that a singlereservoir may not have a build-up of sludge like material.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus having a solid and liquid separation stage comprising:

-   -   (a) a combined solid and liquid separator having a separated        element outlet; and,    -   (b) a solid and liquid collection chamber in communication with        the separated element outlet, the solid and liquid separation        chamber including a screen provided therein, when the surface        cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaning orientation, the solid        and liquid collection chamber has a lower region comprising a        liquid collection region whereby, in operation, liquid passes        through the screen and solid material collects on the screen.

In any embodiment, the combined solid and liquid separation member mayinclude a cyclone having a cyclone wall, a cyclone fluid inlet and acyclone fluid outlet and, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in thefloor cleaning orientation, the separated element outlet may be at anupper end of the cyclone.

In any embodiment, a baffle may be provided on an outer surface of thecyclone wall proximate the separated element outlet and may be locatedbelow the separated element outlet when the surface cleaning apparatusis in the floor cleaning orientation.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the cyclone fluid inlet and the cyclone fluidoutlet may be at a lower end of the cyclone.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the lower region may extend to a position at alower elevation than a lower end of the combined solid and liquidseparation member.

In any embodiment, the screen may be oriented such that a firstdirection of flow of liquid through the screen is at an angle to thefirst direction of flow through the separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the screen may be configured such that an additionaldirection of flow of liquid through the screen is at an angle to firstdirection of flow of liquid through the screen

In any embodiment, the screen may generally L-shaped

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may include at leastone additional screen.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the solid and liquid collection chamber may havean upper end and the upper end is openable.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the solid and liquid separation member may have anupper end and the upper end that is openable concurrently with the upperend of the solid and liquid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and anupright section moveably mounted thereto between a storage position anda reclined surface cleaning position and the solid and liquid separationstage may be provided in the upright section. When the upright sectionis in the storage position, the separated element outlet may be providedat an upper end of the combined solid and liquid separation member, thelower region may extend to a position at a lower elevation than a lowerend of the combined solid and liquid separation member and the solid andliquid collection chamber may have an upper end and the upper end isopenable.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floorcleaning orientation, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a drivehandle located rearwardly on the surface cleaning apparatus and theseparated element outlet is located on a rear side of the combined solidand liquid separation member.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus having a solid and liquid separation stagecomprising:

-   -   (a) a combined solid and liquid separation member having a        separation member wall having a separated element outlet; and,    -   (b) a solid and liquid collection chamber in communication with        the separated element outlet,    -   wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor        cleaning orientation, the separated element outlet is provided        at an upper end of the combined solid and liquid separation        member, a lower end of the solid and liquid collection chamber        extends to a position at a lower elevation than a lower end of        the combined solid and liquid separation member and the solid        and liquid collection chamber has an upper end and the upper end        is openable.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the solid and liquid separation member has anupper end and the upper end may be openable concurrently with the upperend of the solid and liquid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the solid and liquid separation chamber further mayinclude a screen provided therein and, when the surface cleaningapparatus is in the floor cleaning orientation, the solid and liquidcollection chamber may have a lower region including a liquid collectionregion whereby, in operation, liquid passes through the screen and solidmaterial collects on the screen.

In any embodiment, a baffle may be provided on an outer surface of theseparation member wall proximate the separated element outlet and may belocated below the separated element outlet when the surface cleaningapparatus is in the floor cleaning orientation.

In any embodiment, the combined solid and liquid separation member mayinclude a cyclone having a cyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluidoutlet. When the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floor cleaningorientation, the cyclone fluid inlet and the cyclone fluid outlet are ata lower end of the cyclone.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floorcleaning orientation, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a drivehandle located rearwardly on the surface cleaning apparatus and theseparated element outlet may be located on a rear side of the combinedsolid and liquid separation member.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, an upright surface cleaning apparatus may beconfigured as an upright surface cleaning apparatus with an above floorcleaning mode (e.g., a wand and a flexible hose may be removable forabove floor cleaning) and/or a cleaning unit may be removably mounted tothe upright apparatus with or without a wand and flexible hose. Anadvantage of these embodiments is that additional cleaning modes may beprovided in a single apparatus. In such an embodiment, when used in anextractor mode or without the wand and hose deployed, the wand and hosemay not be part of the fluid flow path through the apparatus. Anadvantage of this design is that the flow path is shorter in anextractor mode, thereby reducing the energy requirement and alsoreducing the water that may build up in the hose.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided an upright surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) at least one treatment unit comprising a first separator;    -   (c) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section having the first separator and an above floor cleaning        member comprising a second dirty fluid inlet and a flexible        hose;    -   (d) a liquid deliver system extending from at least one fluid        reservoir to at least one applicator nozzle;    -   (e) a floor cleaning fluid flow path extending from the first        dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet, the first fluid flow        path including the first separation stage and a suction motor;        and,    -   (f) an above floor fluid flow path extending from the second        dirty fluid inlet to the clean air outlet and including the        first separator, the suction motor and the above floor cleaning        member,    -   wherein the upright surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a        floor cleaning mode which utilizes the floor cleaning fluid flow        path and an above floor cleaning mode which utilizes the above        floor fluid flow path. The flexible hose may be isolated from        the floor cleaning fluid flow path.

In any embodiment, a valve may alternately connect the first dirty fluidinlet and the second dirty fluid inlet in flow communication with thefirst separator.

In any embodiment, the floor cleaning fluid flow path may have a portionwhich extends from the first dirty fluid inlet to an outlet end that isupstream of the at least one cleaning stage and the above floor fluidflow path has a portion which extends from the second dirty fluid inletto an outlet end that is upstream of the at least one cleaning stage andthe outlet end of each of the floor cleaning and above floor fluid flowpaths is located at an inlet portion of the valve.

In any embodiment, a valve actuator may be drivingly connected to thevalve and the above floor cleaning member may be drivingly connected tothe valve actuator whereby the valve is moved to a floor cleaningposition in which the at least one cleaning stage is in flowcommunication with the first dirty fluid inlet when an inlet end of theabove floor cleaning member is mounted to the upright surface cleaningapparatus and the valve is moved to an above floor cleaning position inwhich the at least one cleaning stage is in flow communication with thesecond dirty fluid inlet when the inlet end of the above floor cleaningmember is removed from the upright surface cleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, the upright section may include a portable surfacecleaning unit which is removably mounted to the upright surface cleaningapparatus and the portable surface cleaning unit may include the atleast one cleaning stage and the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the portable surface cleaning unit may be removablewithout the at least one fluid reservoir.

In any embodiment, the at least one fluid reservoir may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may include asecond separation stage that is upstream from the first separation stageand the portable surface cleaning unit may be removable without thesecond separation stage.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may include asecond separation stage that is upstream from the first separation stageand the portable surface cleaning unit may be removable without thesecond separation stage.

In any embodiment, the second separation stage may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the second separation stage may include a liquidseparator.

In any embodiment, the flexible hose may be isolated from the floorcleaning fluid flow path.

In accordance this aspect, there is also provided an upright surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) at least one separation stage comprising a first separation        stage;    -   (c) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section having a portable surface cleaning unit which is        removably mounted to the upright surface cleaning apparatus,        wherein the portable surface cleaning unit comprises the first        separation stage and an above floor cleaning member, the above        floor cleaning member comprising a second dirty fluid inlet and        a flexible hose;    -   (d) a cleaning solution delivery system extending from at least        one fluid reservoir to at least one applicator nozzle;    -   (e) a floor cleaning fluid flow path extending from the first        dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet, the first fluid flow        path including the first separation stage and a suction motor;        and,    -   (f) an above floor fluid flow path extending from the second        dirty fluid inlet to the clean air outlet and including the        first separation stage, the suction motor and the above floor        cleaning member,    -   wherein the upright surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a        floor cleaning mode which utilizes the floor cleaning fluid flow        path and an above floor cleaning mode which utilizes the above        floor fluid flow path.

In any embodiment, the portable surface cleaning unit may be removablewithout the at least one fluid reservoir.

In any embodiment, the at least one fluid reservoir may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may include asecond separation stage that is upstream from the first separation stageand the portable surface cleaning unit may be removable without thesecond separation stage.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may include asecond separation stage that is upstream from the first separation stageand the portable surface cleaning unit may be removable without thesecond separation stage.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may include asecond separation stage that is upstream from the first separation stageand the second separation stage may be part of the surface cleaninghead.

In any embodiment, the second separation stage may include a liquidseparator.

In any embodiment, the flexible hose may be isolated from the floorcleaning fluid flow path.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein an upright surface cleaning apparatus having a surfacecleaning apparatus which removes water from a surface is provided with afluid flow path upstream from the separation stage (which may be anyseparation stage known in the art or disclosed herein) wherein at leasta portion of the fluid flow path upstream from the separation stage isremovable. An advantage of this design is that the removable portion maybe removed and washed and/or dried to reduce the build-up of odors inthe apparatus.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a cleaning solution delivery system comprising a liquid        reservoir and a fluid flow path extending from the liquid        reservoir to at least one delivery nozzle;    -   (b) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet head to        a clean air outlet; and,    -   (c) a separation stage positioned in the fluid flow path,    -   wherein the fluid flow path upstream of the separation member        comprises a removable portion.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may have an absence of atreatment member.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may comprise a flexible hose.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may comprise a plurality ofindividual segments.

In any embodiment, at least one of the segments may be rigid.

In any embodiment, one or more of the segments may be removable withoutremoving all of the segments concurrently.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may comprise a pivot joint.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may extend through a pivotjoint.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may comprise at least a portionof the removable portion is transparent.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an all in thehead surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head andthe removable portion is provided in the surface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus having a surface cleaning head and an uprightsection moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the surfacecleaning head including a moveable joint whereby the upright section ismoveable between an upright storage position and a reclined surfacecleaning position, the upright section comprising the separation stageand the removable portion comprises the moveable joint.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus having a surface cleaning head and an uprightsection moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the surfacecleaning head including a moveable joint whereby the upright section ismoveable between an upright storage position and a reclined surfacecleaning position, the upright section comprising the separation stageand the removable portion extends through the moveable joint.

In any embodiment, the dirty fluid inlet may comprise a brush chamberand the removable portion extends from the brush chamber to theseparation stage.

In any embodiment, the separation stage may comprise a liquid separator.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may be removable with theseparation stage.

In any embodiment, the separation stage may be removable as a sealedunit other than the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

In any embodiment, the removable portion may be removable with theseparation stage.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an all in thehead surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head andthe removable portion is provided in the surface cleaning head.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein an upright surface cleaning apparatus having a surfacecleaning apparatus has one or more of a liquid separator, a liquidcollection container and a cleaning liquid reservoir in the surfacecleaning head. An advantage of this design is that, in the case of anupright surface cleaning apparatus or an all in the head surfacecleaning apparatus, the experienced handle weight (the weight of thehandle experienced by a user when a cleaning solution or recovered dirtywater is stored in the unit, is reduced by storing at least some of theliquid other than on the upright section. This may also help reduce thedistance and elevation that liquid is conveyed within the fluid flowpath of the apparatus, which may help reduce power requirements, and maylower the center of gravity of the apparatus when in use.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided an upright surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet and        a first stage liquid separator;    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section comprising a second stage solid separator downstream        from the first stage liquid separator;    -   (c) a liquid delivery system comprising a cleaning liquid        reservoir and a fluid flow path extending from the cleaning        liquid reservoir to at least one delivery nozzle; and,    -   (d) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet head        to a clean air outlet and comprising the first stage liquid        separator, the second stage solid separator and a suction motor.

In any embodiment, the cleaning liquid reservoir may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the cleaning solution delivery system may be part ofthe surface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the second stage solid separator may comprise acyclone.

In any embodiment, a portion of the fluid flow path located between thefirst dirty fluid inlet and the first stage liquid separator may beremovable. Optionally, the portion of the fluid flow path and the firststage liquid separator may be concurrently removable.

In any embodiment, the upright section may have a portable surfacecleaning unit which is removably mounted to the upright surface cleaningapparatus, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit comprises thesecond stage solid separator, the suction motor and an above floorcleaning member, the above floor cleaning member comprising a seconddirty fluid inlet and a flexible hose. Optionally the cleaning liquidreservoir may be part of the surface cleaning head. Alternately, or inaddition, a portion of the fluid flow path located between the firstdirty fluid inlet and the first stage liquid separator may be removableand the portion of the fluid flow path and the first stage liquidseparator may be concurrently removable.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) at least one separation stage comprising a first separation        stage provided in the surface cleaning head, the first        separation stage comprising a liquid collection container;    -   (c) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright        section having a drive handle;    -   (d) a cleaning solution deliver system extending from at least a        cleaning liquid reservoir to at least one delivery nozzle; and,    -   (e) a floor cleaning fluid flow path extending from the first        dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet, the first fluid flow        path including the first separation stage and a suction motor.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may comprise asecond separation stage that is downstream from the first separationstage. Optionally, the second separation stage may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an all in thehead surface cleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus having an upright section moveably mounted tothe surface cleaning head, the upright section moveable between anupright storage position and a reclined surface cleaning position andthe second separation stage is part of the upright section.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provide an upright surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) at least one separation stage comprising a first stage        liquid separator comprising a liquid collection container;    -   (c) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position;    -   (d) a cleaning solution delivery system comprising a cleaning        liquid reservoir and a fluid flow path extending from the        cleaning liquid reservoir to at least one delivery nozzle; and,    -   (e) a fluid flow path extending from the first dirty fluid inlet        head to a clean air outlet and comprising the first stage liquid        separator and a suction motor,    -   wherein at least one of the liquid collection container and the        cleaning liquid reservoir is part of the surface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, both of the liquid collection container and thecleaning liquid reservoir may be part of the surface cleaning head.

In any embodiment, the at least one separation stage may comprise asecond separation stage that is downstream from the first separationstage and the second separation stage is part of the surface cleaninghead.

In any embodiment, the liquid collection container may be in flowcommunication with the first stage liquid separator and the first stageliquid separator is part of the upright section.

In any embodiment, the liquid collection container may be part of thesurface cleaning head.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, an upright surface cleaning apparatus is provided witha cleaning head having two different types of rollers or brushes (e.g.,a hard floor cleaning brush and a carpet cleaning brush). The hard floorcleaning brush may be positioned forward of the carpet cleaning brush.The two brushes may be rotatable at different speeds. An advantage ofthis design is that the cleaning head may be used to treat both hardfloors and carpet.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaninghead comprising:

-   -   (a) a body having a front end having a dirty fluid inlet, a rear        end and a brush chamber;    -   (b) a front hard floor cleaning brush and a rotatable carpet        cleaning brush positioned rearward of the front hard floor        cleaning brush, each brush having a generally horizontally        extending axis of rotation when the surface cleaning head is        positioned on a generally horizontal floor;    -   (c) a debriding member which engages an upper rearward portion        of the front hard floor cleaning brush; and,    -   (d) the front end having a front wall which extends to a        position spaced at least 0.25″ above a hard surface floor when        the surface cleaning head is positioned on the hard surface        floor,    -   wherein the front hard floor cleaning brush extends to the hard        surface floor when the surface cleaning head is positioned on        the hard surface floor, and    -   wherein the front hard floor cleaning brush engages at least a        portion of an inner surface of a forward portion of the brush        chamber.

In any embodiment, engagement of the front hard floor cleaning brushwith the inner portion of the brush chamber may essentially inhibit airtravelling upwardly over the brush into the brush chamber.

In any embodiment, the front wall may extend to a position spacedbetween 0.25″ and 1.5″ above a hard surface floor when the surfacecleaning head is positioned on the hard surface floor.

In any embodiment, the front wall may extend to a position spacedbetween 0.5″ and 1.25″, and optionally 0.75″-1″, above a hard surfacefloor when the surface cleaning head is positioned on the hard surfacefloor.

In any embodiment, the debriding member may extend forwardly anddownwardly from an upper surface of the brush chamber.

In any embodiment, the front hard floor cleaning brush may comprisemicrofibers.

In any embodiment, the front hard floor cleaning brush may have anabsence of self-supporting bristles.

In any embodiment, the front hard floor cleaning brush may comprise aplurality of generally radially extending elastomeric paddles.

In any embodiment, the carpet brush may comprise a plurality of spacedapart rows of bristles positioned circumferentially around the carpetbrush wherein some of the rows of bristles have a lower stiffnesscompared to other rows of bristles that have a higher stiffness.

In any embodiment, a row of bristles having the lower stiffness may bepositioned between two circumferentially spaced apart rows of bristleshaving the higher stiffness.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a diameter that isfrom 75% to 125% of a diameter of the carpet brush and, optionally, thefront rotatable brush and the carpet brush have approximately the samediameter.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush and the carpet brush mayhave approximately the same diameter.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush and the carpet brush mayoperate at different speeds.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a radially outerportion which travels at a speed which is from 75% to 125% a speed ofthe surface cleaning head when travelling over carpet.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a radially outerportion which travels at a speed which is proximate the speed of thesurface cleaning head when travelling over carpet.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning head comprising:

-   -   (a) a body having a front end having a dirty fluid inlet, a rear        end and a brush chamber;    -   (b) a front hard floor cleaning brush and a rotatable carpet        cleaning brush positioned rearward of the front hard floor        cleaning brush, each brush having a generally horizontally        extending axis of rotation when the surface cleaning head is        positioned on a generally horizontal floor; and,    -   (c) the front end having a front wall which extends to a        positioned spaced above a hard surface floor when the surface        cleaning head is positioned on the hard surface floor,    -   wherein the front rotatable brush and the carpet brush operate        at different speeds.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a radially outerportion which travels at a speed which is from 75% to 125% a speed ofthe surface cleaning head when travelling over carpet.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a radially outerportion which travels at a speed which is proximate the speed of thesurface cleaning head when travelling over carpet.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush may have a diameter that isfrom 0.75% to 1.25 percent of a diameter of the carpet brush.

In any embodiment, the front rotatable brush and the carpet brush mayhave approximately the same diameter.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein an upright surface cleaning apparatus having a surfacecleaning apparatus is provided with a cyclone having a liquid blockingcollar (e.g., an annular ring), which inhibits and, optionallyessentially prevents or prevents liquid separated from an air streamexiting the cyclone chamber via the cyclone air outlet of the cyclonechamber. An advantage of this design is that a single stage cyclone maybe used to separate both liquid and particulate matter entrained in anair stream.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid,    -   (b) an inverted cyclone comprising, when the surface cleaning        apparatus is in a floor cleaning orientation, a lower end, a        lower end wall, an upper end and an upper end wall, the lower        end having a cyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone air outlet and        the upper end has a separated element outlet, wherein the        cyclone air outlet comprises a treated air outlet conduit and a        liquid blocking collar is provided on an outer surface of the        treated air outlet conduit below an inlet to the treated fluid        outlet conduit; and,    -   (c) a solid and liquid collection chamber in communication with        the separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the inverted cyclone may have a cyclone sidewall andthe separated element outlet is provided in a sidewall of the invertedcyclone.

In any embodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet may have a height extendingaway from the lower end wall and the liquid blocking collar may belocated above a mid-point of the height when the surface cleaningapparatus is in the floor cleaning orientation.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprisean outlet screen covering the inlet to the treated air outlet conduit.

In any embodiment, the outlet screen may be frusto-conical in shape andthe outlet screen may have a lower end that is wider than an upper endof the outlet screen when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprisean outlet conduit screen wherein the outlet conduit screen may bepositioned around the treated air outlet conduit at a position below theliquid blocking collar when the surface cleaning apparatus is in thefloor cleaning orientation.

In any embodiment, the liquid blocking collar may extend a first lateraldistance outward from the treated air outlet conduit and the outletconduit screen may extend a second lateral distance outward from thetreated air outlet conduit and the second lateral distance is less thanthe first lateral distance.

In any embodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet may have a radial inner endand the outlet conduit screen may be spaced inwardly from the radialinner end whereby a gap is provided between the cyclone fluid inlet andthe outlet conduit screen.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid,    -   (b) an inverted cyclone comprising, when the surface cleaning        apparatus is in a floor cleaning orientation, a first end, a        first end wall, a second end and a second end wall, the first        end having a cyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone air outlet and        the second end has a separated element outlet, wherein the        cyclone air outlet comprises a treated air outlet conduit and a        liquid blocking collar is provided on an outer surface of the        treated air outlet conduit below an inlet to the treated air        outlet conduit; and,    -   (c) a solid and liquid collection chamber in communication with        the separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the inverted cyclone may have a cyclone sidewall andthe separated element outlet is provided in a sidewall of the invertedcyclone.

In any embodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet may have a height extendingaway from the first end wall and the liquid blocking collar may bespaced further from the first end wall than a mid-point of the height ofthe cyclone fluid inlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprisean outlet screen covering the inlet to the treated air outlet conduit.

In any embodiment, the outlet screen may be frusto-conical in shape andthe outlet screen may have a first end that is positioned closer to theinlet of the treated air outlet conduit than a second end of the outletscreen and the first end of the outlet screen may be wider than a secondend of the outlet screen.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprisean outlet conduit screen wherein the outlet conduit screen may bepositioned around the treated air outlet conduit and extends between thefirst end wall and the liquid blocking collar.

In any embodiment, the outlet conduit screen may be frusto-conical inshape and may have a first end that is positioned closer to the firstend wall a second end of the outlet conduit screen and the first end ofthe outlet conduit screen may be wider than the second end of the outletconduit screen.

In any embodiment, the liquid blocking collar may extend a first lateraldistance outward from the treated air outlet conduit and the outletconduit screen may extend a second lateral distance outward from thetreated air outlet conduit and the second lateral distance may be lessthan the first lateral distance.

In any embodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet may have a radial inner endand the outlet conduit screen may be spaced inwardly from the radialinner end whereby a gap is provided between the cyclone fluid inlet andthe outlet conduit screen.

In any embodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet may have a radial inner endand the outlet conduit screen may be spaced inwardly from the radialinner end whereby a gap is provided between the cyclone fluid inlet andthe outlet conduit screen.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, recovered liquid may be transferred from a collectionchamber to a separated liquid collection container which may be remotefrom the collection chamber. For example, the separated liquidcollection container may be provided at a location spaced from thetreatment unit, such as in a surface cleaning head of an upright surfacecleaning apparatus. An advantage of this design is that, in the case ofan upright surface cleaning apparatus or an all in the head surfacecleaning apparatus, the experienced handle weight experienced by a userwhen a cleaning solution or recovered dirty water is stored in the unitis reduced by storing at least some of the liquid other than on theupright section. This may also help lower the center of gravity of theapparatus when in use.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid;    -   (b) a separator having a separated element outlet;    -   (c) a collection chamber in communication with the separated        element outlet;    -   (d) a separated liquid collection container downstream from the        collection chamber; and,    -   (e) a fluid flow path from the collection chamber to the        separated liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the floorcleaning orientation, the separated liquid collection container may bepositioned below the collection chamber.

In any embodiment, separated liquid may pass to the separated liquidcollection container by gravity flow.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise apump wherein the pump transfers separated fluid from the collectionchamber to the separated liquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise asensor which issues a signal when water is detected in the surfacecleaning apparatus and the pump is actuated in response to the signal.

In any embodiment, the pump may be actuated when the liquid deliverysystem is actuated and/or when the surface cleaning apparatus isactuated.

In any embodiment, the collection chamber may comprise a screenpositioned between an inlet to the fluid flow path and the separatedelement outlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise avalve positioned to prevent fluid passing from the separated liquidcollection container to the separated element outlet. The valve may beprovided in the fluid flow path.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise a cyclone.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise asurface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet and an upright sectionmoveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the upright sectionmoveable between an upright storage position and a reclined surfacecleaning position, the upright section comprising the separator and thesurface cleaning head comprising the separated liquid collectioncontainer. Optionally, separated liquid passes to the separated liquidcollection container by gravity flow. Alternately, or in addition, thesurface cleaning apparatus may further comprise a pump wherein the pumptransfers separated fluid from the collection chamber to the separatedliquid collection container.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid collection container maycomprise an inflatable bladder. Optionally, the liquid delivery systemmay comprise a clean liquid container and the inflatable bladder may beprovided in the clean liquid container.

In any embodiment, the liquid delivery system may comprise a cleanliquid container and the clean liquid container may comprise adeflatable bladder in the separated liquid collection container, whereinthe clean liquid container deflates as clean liquid is withdrawn by theliquid delivery system.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid collection container may be adisposable container.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, an upright surface cleaning apparatus, which may be ahand held surface cleaning apparatus, is provided with a system toinhibit, essentially prevent or prevent water from exiting a liquidcollection chamber and travelling to a suction motor. For example, ifthe surface cleaning apparatus is an upright surface cleaning apparatus,the surface cleaning apparatus may include a tilt or recline sensorwhich inhibits the upright section recline past a certain point when thesurface cleaning apparatus is operated in an extractor mode and/or asensor, such as a moisture sensor which issues a signal when water isdetected in, e.g., a liquid collection chamber, the treatment unit orthe flow path upstream of the suction motor. It will be appreciatedthat, surface cleaning apparatus, such as a hand held surface cleaningapparatus, may also incorporate a moisture sensor which issues a signalwhen water is detected in, e.g., a liquid collection chamber, thetreatment unit or the flow path upstream of the suction motor. Anadvantage of this design is that the unit is inhibited from operating ina manner whereby water may be drawn into the suction motor.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a an upright surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position;    -   (c) a separator and a liquid collection chamber that receives        recovered water,    -   wherein the liquid collection chamber is provided on the upright        section;    -   (d) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to a        clean air outlet, the first fluid flow path including the        separator and a suction motor; and,    -   (e) a recline limiter system adapted to inhibit the upright        section reclining to a position at which recovered water enters        the separator.

In any embodiment, the recline limiter system may comprise a moisturesensor which issues a signal upon detecting water and a blocking memberwhich, upon issuance of the signal, deploys to inhibit rearwardinclination of the upright section further than a particularinclination. The particular rearward inclination of the upright sectionmay be an angle of from 15 to 30° from the floor.

In any embodiment, the auto shut off control system may comprise aninclination sensor which issues a signal upon detecting a particularrearward inclination of the upright section and a blocking member which,upon issuance of the signal, deploys to inhibit rearward inclination ofthe upright section further than a particular inclination. Theparticular rearward inclination of the upright section may be an angleof from 15 to 30° from the floor.

In any embodiment, the upright surface cleaning apparatus may furthercomprise a cleaning solution delivery system comprising at least onespray nozzle that delivers at least one cleaning solution and therecline limiter system is actuated when the cleaning solution deliverysystem is actuated.

In any embodiment, the recline limiter system may comprise a moisturesensor which issues a water detection signal upon detecting water and aninclination sensor which issues an inclination signal upon detecting aparticular rearward inclination of the upright section and the reclinelimiter system deploys a blocking member that inhibits rearwardinclination of the upright section further than a particular inclinationupon issuance of the signals.

In any embodiment, the upright surface cleaning apparatus may furthercomprise a solenoid which is actuated to deploy the blocking member uponissuance of the signals.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end has aseparated element outlet in communication with the collection chamber.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position;    -   (c) a separator and a liquid collection chamber that receives        recovered water,    -   wherein the liquid collection chamber is provided on the upright        section;    -   (d) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to a        clean air outlet, the first fluid flow path including the        separator and a suction motor; and,    -   (e) an auto shut off control system adapted to shut the suction        motor off prior to the upright section reclining to a position        at which recovered water enters the separator.

In any embodiment, the auto shut off control system may comprise amoisture sensor which issues a signal upon detecting water and the autoshut off control system de-actuates the suction motor upon receipt ofthe signal.

In any embodiment, the auto shut off control system may comprise aninclination sensor which issues a signal upon detecting a particularrearward inclination of the upright section and the auto shut offcontrol system de-actuates the suction motor upon receipt of the signal.

In any embodiment, the particular rearward inclination of the uprightsection may be an angle of from 15 to 30° from the floor.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise acleaning solution delivery system comprising at least one spray nozzlethat delivers at least one cleaning solution and the auto shut offcontrol system is actuated when the cleaning solution delivery system isactuated.

In any embodiment, the auto shut off control system may comprise amoisture sensor which issues a water detection signal upon detectingwater and an inclination sensor which issues an inclination signal upondetecting a particular rearward inclination of the upright section andthe auto shut off control system de-actuates the suction motor when bothsignals are issued.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end has aseparated element outlet in communication with the collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise acleaning solution delivery system comprising at least one spray nozzlethat delivers at least one cleaning solution and the auto shut offcontrol system comprises an inclination sensor which issues a firstinclination signal that inhibits the actuation of the suction motoruntil the upright section has been reclined beyond an initial angulardegree of rotation of the upright section from the upright storageposition.

In any embodiment, the auto shut off control system may comprise amoisture sensor which issues a water detection signal upon detectingwater and the inclination sensor issues a second inclination signal upondetecting a particular rearward inclination of the upright section andthe auto shut off control system de-actuates the suction motor when boththe water detection signal and the second inclination signals areissued.

In any embodiment, the inclination sensor may comprise a singleinclination sensor which issues both the first and second inclinationsignals.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a hand heldsurface cleaning apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, in order to inhibit, essentially prevent or preventwater from exiting a liquid collection chamber and travelling to asuction motor, a valve may be provided to close a flow path back into aseparator, such as a cyclone. Alternately, or in addition the separatedliquid container may be configured to provide a reservoir to storeseparated liquid when the orientation of a surface cleaning apparatus ischanged from, e.g., a cleaning orientation to a horizontal orientationor a storage orientation to a reclined cleaning orientation.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid;    -   (b) a separation stage comprising a separator and a separated        liquid container in communication with a separated element        outlet of the separator; and,    -   (c) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a        clean air outlet, the fluid flow path including the separator        and a suction motor,    -   wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a vertical        orientation, the separated liquid container has a first portion        underlying the separator, a second portion laterally spaced from        the first portion and positioned below the separator and a third        portion positioned above the second portion, and the third        portion has a volume that is at least 80% of a volume of the        first portion.

In any embodiment, the separation stage may further comprise a solidcollection chamber and the first portion underlies the solid collectionchamber, the second portion is laterally spaced from the first portionand is positioned below the solid collection chamber and the thirdportion is positioned above the second portion, and the third portionhas a volume that is at least 80% of a volume of the first portion.

In any embodiment, the third portion may be positioned adjacent thesolid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the third portion may extend along a side of thesolid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the third portion may be in flow communication withthe solid collection chamber and the second portion is in flowcommunication with the third portion.

In any embodiment, the first and second portions may comprise acontiguous volume.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end has theseparated element outlet, wherein the third portion has a volumewhereby, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a verticalorientation, the first and second portions are full with separatedliquid and the third portion is empty and when the surface cleaningapparatus is then moved to a horizontal orientation, an upper surface ofthe separated liquid is positioned below the separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having the dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position; and,    -   (c) a recline limiter system adapted to inhibit the upright        section reclining beyond a particular angle of inclination,    -   wherein the third portion has a volume whereby, when the surface        cleaning apparatus is in a vertical orientation, the first and        second portions are full with separated liquid and the third        portion is empty and when the surface cleaning apparatus is then        moved to the particular angle of inclination, an upper surface        of the separated liquid is positioned below the separated        element outlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise avalve in a flow connection between the third portion and the solidcollection chamber.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid;    -   (b) a separation stage comprising a separator and a separated        liquid container in communication with a separated element        outlet of the separator; and,    -   (c) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a        clean air outlet, the fluid flow path including the separator        and a suction motor,    -   wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a vertical        orientation, the separated liquid container has a first portion        underlying the separator, a second portion laterally spaced from        the first portion and positioned below the separator and a third        portion positioned above the second portion, and the third        portion has a volume whereby, when the surface cleaning        apparatus is in a vertical orientation, the first and second        portions are full with separated liquid and the third portion is        empty and when the surface cleaning apparatus is then moved to a        horizontal orientation, an upper surface of the separated liquid        is positioned below the separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the separation stage may further comprise a solidcollection chamber and the first portion underlies the solid collectionchamber, the second portion is laterally spaced from the first portionand is positioned below the solid collection chamber and the thirdportion is positioned above the second portion, and the third portionhas a volume that is at least 80% of a volume of the first portion.

In any embodiment, the third portion may be positioned adjacent thesolid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the third portion may extend alone a side of thesolid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the third portion may be in flow communication withthe solid collection chamber and the second portion is in flowcommunication with the third portion.

In any embodiment, the first and second portions may comprise acontiguous volume.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end has theseparated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may be an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a surface cleaning head having the dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning        head, the upright section moveable between an upright storage        position and a reclined surface cleaning position; and,    -   (c) a recline limiter system adapted to inhibit the upright        section reclining beyond a particular angle of inclination,    -   wherein the third portion has a volume whereby, when the surface        cleaning apparatus is in a vertical orientation, the first and        second portions are full with separated liquid and the third        portion is empty and when the surface cleaning apparatus is then        moved to the particular angle of inclination, an upper surface        of the separated liquid is positioned below the separated        element outlet.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise avalve in a flow connection between the third portion and the solidcollection chamber.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a liquid delivery system comprising at least one spray        nozzle that delivers at least one liquid;    -   (b) a separation stage comprising a separator, a solid        collection chamber in communication with a separated element        outlet of the separator and a separated liquid container in        communication with the solid collection chamber;    -   (c) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a        clean air outlet, the fluid flow path including the separator        and a suction motor; and,    -   (d) a valve in a flow connection between the solid collection        chamber and the separated liquid container.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid container may have a firstportion underlying the solid collection chamber, a second portionlaterally spaced from the first portion and positioned below the solidcollection chamber and a third portion positioned above the secondportion and adjacent the solid collection chamber and the third portionis in flow communication with the solid collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the third portion may have a volume that is at least80% of a volume of the first portion

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end has theseparated element outlet.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, an upright surface cleaning apparatus may be a handheld surface cleaning apparatus. The hand held cleaning apparatus mayuse any of the embodiments of the various aspects disclosed herein whichare not limited to designs of an upright or all in the head surfacecleaning apparatus.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a hand held surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet        provided at a front end of the hand held surface cleaning        apparatus to a clean air outlet, the fluid flow path including a        separator and a suction motor, wherein the suction motor is        positioned rearward of the dirty fluid inlet;    -   (b) a separation stage comprising the separator, a solid        collection chamber in communication with a separated element        outlet of the separator and a separated liquid reservoir in        communication with the solid collection chamber wherein the        solid collection chamber is positioned rearward of the separated        liquid reservoir, the separator is positioned rearward of the        solid collection chamber; and,    -   (c) a handle.

In any embodiment, the suction motor may be positioned rearward of theseparator.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may be positioned atthe front end.

In any embodiment, the handle may be provided at a rear end of the handheld surface cleaning apparatus.

In any embodiment, a plane may intersect the separated liquid reservoir,the solid collection chamber and the separator.

In any embodiment, the fluid flow path may include an inlet passage thatextends from the dirty fluid inlet to an inlet to the separator and aportion of the inlet passage extends through the separated liquidreservoir.

In any embodiment, the fluid flow path may include a downstream portionextending from a separator outlet to the suction motor and the suctionmotor has an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the flowaxis of the downstream portion.

In any embodiment, the flow axis of the downstream portion may begenerally parallel to a flow axis of the inlet passage.

In any embodiment, the separator may comprise an inverted cyclonecomprising, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in a floor cleaningorientation, a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having acyclone fluid inlet and a cyclone fluid outlet and the upper end havingthe separated element outlet.

In any embodiment, the fluid flow path may include an inlet passage thatextends from the dirty fluid inlet to an inlet to the cyclone and thecyclone has an axis of rotation that is generally perpendicular to aflow axis of the inlet passage.

In any embodiment, the hand held surface cleaning apparatus may furthercomprise an on board power source wherein the on board power source ispositioned rearward of the separator.

In any embodiment, the hand held surface cleaning apparatus may furthercomprise an on board power source wherein the on board power source ispositioned rearward of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the fluid flow path may include an inlet passage thatextends from the dirty fluid inlet to an inlet to the separator and thehand held surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise an on boardpower source wherein at least a portion of the on board power source ispositioned above of the suction motor when a flow axis of the inletpassage extends generally horizontally.

In any embodiment, the hand held surface cleaning apparatus may furthercomprise a cleaning solution delivery system comprising at least onespray nozzle that delivers at least one cleaning solution.

In any embodiment, the handle may extend from the separator to aposition rearward of an inlet end of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the handle may extend from the separator to aposition adjacent a rear end of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the fluid flow path may include an inlet passage thatextends from the dirty fluid inlet to an inlet to the separator and whena flow axis of the inlet passage extends generally horizontally, alloperating components of the hand held surface cleaning apparatus arepositioned below the separated element outlet.

In accordance with another aspect of the teachings describe herein,which may be used alone or in combination with any other aspectsdescribed herein, an upright surface cleaning apparatus may include anopen cell material, such as a sponge, which may be positioned between anentrance to a separated liquid reservoir and a portion of the separatedliquid reservoir which retains separated liquid. An advantage of thisdesign is that stored separated liquid may be inhibited from reversingdirection and travelling from a liquid reservoir to a separator (e.g.,cyclone) and then to the suction motor.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaningapparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet a clean        air outlet, the fluid flow path including a separator and a        suction motor; and,    -   (b) a separation stage comprising the separator and a separated        liquid reservoir wherein the separated liquid reservoir includes        a liquid sequestering member.

In any embodiment, the liquid sequestering member may comprise an opencell material. The open cell material may comprise an open cell foam.

In any embodiment, the liquid sequestering member may be deformable andreusable.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may comprise acontainer with an openable lid wherein the liquid sequestering memberremains in the container when the lid is opened.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise acompression member which is moveable between a first position in whichthe liquid sequestering member is uncompressed and a second position inwhich the liquid sequestering member is deformed. The compression membermay comprise a plunger.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may have a liquidoutlet positioned below the compression member when the separated liquidreservoir is positioned in an emptying orientation, whereby, when theliquid outlet is opened and the liquid sequestering member iscompressed, liquid trapped in the liquid sequestering member exits theseparated liquid reservoir through the liquid outlet while the liquidsequestering member remains in the separated liquid reservoir.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may have a separatedliquid outlet, the liquid sequestering member may be deformable andreusable, and the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise acompression member which is moveable between a first position in whichthe liquid sequestering member is uncompressed and a second position inwhich the liquid sequestering member is deformed.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a surfacecleaning apparatus comprising:

-   -   (a) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet a clean        air outlet, the fluid flow path including a separator and a        suction motor; and,    -   (b) a separation stage comprising the separator and a separated        liquid reservoir wherein the separated liquid reservoir includes        baffle members.

In any embodiment, the baffle members may comprise an open cellmaterial.

In any embodiment, the baffle members may comprise an open cell foam.

In any embodiment, the baffle members may be deformable.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may comprise acontainer with an openable lid wherein the baffle members remain in thecontainer when the lid is opened.

In any embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise acompression member which is moveable between a first position in whichthe baffle members are uncompressed and a second position in which thebaffle members are deformed. The compression member may comprise aplunger.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may have a liquidoutlet positioned below the compression member when the separated liquidreservoir is positioned in an emptying orientation, whereby, when theliquid outlet is opened and the open cell material is compressed, liquidtrapped in the open cell material exits the separated liquid reservoirthrough the liquid outlet while the open cell material remains in theseparated liquid reservoir.

In any embodiment, the separated liquid reservoir may have a separatedliquid outlet, the baffle members are deformable, and the surfacecleaning apparatus further comprises a compression member which ismoveable between a first position in which the baffle members areuncompressed and a second position in which the baffle members aredeformed.

DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples ofarticles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the presentspecification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taughtin any way.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a surfacecleaning apparatus in an upright position;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus ofFIG. 1, in a reclined, surface cleaning position;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus ofFIG. 1, in an above floor cleaning configuration;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus ofFIG. 1, with a cleaning unit detached;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asurface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the surface cleaningapparatus of FIG. 5, in an above floor cleaning configuration;

FIG. 6A is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the surface cleaningapparatus of FIG. 5, with a cleaning unit detached;

FIG. 7 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asurface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asurface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment ofa surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof a surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof a surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof a surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 13A is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof a surface cleaning apparatus, with a separator in the surfacecleaning head;

FIG. 13B is schematic, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of thesurface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 13A in a different configuration;

FIG. 14 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an allin the head type surface cleaning apparatus, with the treatment unit andsuction motor in the surface cleaning head;

FIG. 15 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof an upright-style surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 16A is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the surface cleaningapparatus of FIG. 15, with a cleaning unit detached;

FIG. 16B is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of thesurface cleaning apparatus with a valve in a first configuration;

FIG. 16C is a schematic, cross-sectional view of FIG. 16B, with thevalve in a second configuration;

FIG. 16D is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of thesurface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 5 with an alternate valve in a firstconfiguration;

FIG. 16E is a schematic, cross-sectional view of FIG. 16D, with thevalve in a second configuration;

FIG. 16F is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of thesurface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 5 with an alternate valve in a firstconfiguration;

FIG. 16G is a schematic, cross-sectional view of FIG. 16F, with thevalve in a second configuration;

FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional view of one example of a two stagetreatment unit;

FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the treatment unit of FIG. 17A,with a lid or upper section removed;

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a liquid separatorwith an upper lid removed;

FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view of the liquid separator of FIG. 18A,taken along line 18B-18B;

FIG. 19 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of asingle stage treatment unit;

FIG. 20 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asingle stage treatment unit;

FIG. 21 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of asingle stage treatment unit;

FIG. 22A is a top view of one embodiment of a liquid blocking collar;

FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 22A;

FIG. 23A is a top view of another embodiment of a liquid blockingcollar;

FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 23A;

FIGS. 23C and 23D are cross-sectional views of alternativeconfigurations for the blocking collar of FIG. 23 a;

FIG. 24A is a top view of another embodiment of a liquid blockingcollar;

FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 24A;

FIG. 24C is a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration forthe blocking collar of FIG. 24A;

FIGS. 25 to 41 are schematic, cross-sectional views of yet otherembodiments of a single stage treatment unit;

FIG. 42 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 43 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus in an upright position;

FIG. 44 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the portion of theembodiment FIG. 43, with the upright section in a reclined position;

FIG. 45 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus in an upright position;

FIG. 46 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the portion of theembodiment FIG. 45, with the upright section in a reclined position;

FIG. 47 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus in an upright position;

FIG. 48 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the portion of theembodiment FIG. 47, with the upright section in a reclined position;

FIG. 49 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a liquidreservoir unit;

FIG. 50 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a liquidreservoir unit;

FIG. 51A is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a liquidreservoir unit;

FIG. 51B is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a liquidreservoir unit;

FIG. 52 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of aliquid reservoir unit;

FIG. 53 is a representation of the liquid reservoir unit of FIG. 52,with a tank removed;

FIG. 54A is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of aliquid reservoir unit;

FIG. 54B is a schematic representation of the liquid reservoir unit ofFIG. 54A with its cartridges removed;

FIG. 55A is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of aliquid reservoir unit;

FIG. 55B is another schematic representation of the liquid reservoirunit of FIG. 55A;

FIG. 56 is a schematic, cross-sectional representation of one embodimentof a surface cleaning head;

FIG. 57 is a schematic, cross-sectional representation of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning head;

FIG. 58 is a schematic, cross-sectional representation of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning head;

FIGS. 59 to 61 are schematic, cross-sectional representations of otherembodiments of a surface cleaning head, having a front facing dirtyfluid inlet;

FIG. 62 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus with a removable air flowpath segment;

FIG. 63A is a schematic cross-sectional view the portion of theembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 62, with an air flowpath segment removed;

FIG. 63B is a schematic cross-sectional view the portion of theembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 62, with a separatorand an air flow path segment removed;

FIG. 64 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a handheld surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 65 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of ahand held surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 66A is a schematic, cross-sectional view of yet another embodimentof a hand held surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 66B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus of FIG. 66A in an upright storage configuration;

FIG. 66C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus of FIG. 66A in a floor cleaning configuration;

FIG. 67A is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a surfacecleaning head;

FIG. 67B is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a surfacecleaning head;

FIG. 68 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a surfacecleaning head;

FIG. 69 is a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of a treatmentunit;

FIG. 70 is a top perspective view of the treatment unit of FIG. 69 withits lid removed;

FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of the treatment unit of FIG. 69 takenalong line 71-71;

FIG. 72 is a cross-sectional view of the treatment unit of FIG. 69 takenalong line 72-72;

FIG. 73 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 72, with a pre-motor filterin a different configuration;

FIG. 74 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a treatmentunit;

FIG. 75 is a front view of another embodiment of a treatment unit;

FIG. 76 is a cross-sectional view of the treatment unit of FIG. 75,taken along line 76-76;

FIG. 77 is another cross-sectional view of the treatment unit of FIG.75, taken in a plane orthogonal to the line 76-76;

FIG. 78 is a cross-sectional, schematic representation of anotherembodiment of a treatment unit;

FIG. 79 is a cross-sectional, schematic representation of anotherembodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus in a first configuration;and.

FIG. 80 is a schematic representation of the surface cleaning apparatusof FIG. 79 in a second configuration

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide anexample of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodimentdescribed below limits any claimed invention and any claimed inventionmay cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those describedbelow. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses orprocesses having all of the features of any one apparatus or processdescribed below or to features common to multiple or all of theapparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or processdescribed below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Anyinvention disclosed in an apparatus or process described below that isnot claimed in this document may be the subject matter of anotherprotective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, andthe applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaimor dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in thisdocument.

The terms “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “embodiments,” “theembodiment,” “the embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “someembodiments,” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all)embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. Alisting of items does not imply that any or all of the items aremutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,”“an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be“coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts arejoined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., throughone or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs. As usedherein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “directlycoupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directlyfastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with eachother. As used herein, two or more parts are said to be “rigidlycoupled”, “rigidly connected”, “rigidly attached”, or “rigidly fastened”where the parts are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining aconstant orientation relative to each other. None of the terms“coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and “fastened” distinguish themanner in which two or more parts are joined together.

Description of a Surface Cleaning Apparatus

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a surface cleaningapparatus 100 is shown. The following is a general discussion of thisembodiment which provides a basis for understanding several of thefeatures which are discussed herein. As discussed in detailsubsequently, each of the features may be used by themselves in asurface cleaning apparatus or in combination with one or more of theother features.

In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaning apparatus is an uprightsurface cleaning apparatus that can be operated in a vacuum cleaner modeand optionally in an extractor mode. In alternate embodiments, thesurface cleaning apparatus may be another suitable type of surfacecleaning apparatus, such as a canister type vacuum cleaner, and handvacuum cleaner, a stick vacuum cleaner or a carpet extractor.

In the illustrated example, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 includesa surface cleaning head 102 that is configured to travel (e.g., roll)across a surface to be cleaned, such as a floor. The surface cleaninghead 102 includes at least one dirty fluid inlet 104, which may bepositioned proximate the floor when the surface cleaning head 102 is inthe surface cleaning position. The dirty fluid inlet 104 may beconfigured to receive relatively dry air, dirt, debris and the like, aswould any vacuum cleaner. Dirty fluid inlet 104 may optionally beconfigured to receive liquids, such as water, cleaning solutions andother liquids that may be on the surface, as would any extractor. Itwill be appreciated that two different dirty fluid inlets 104 may beprovided, one for each function. For example, the surface cleaning head102 may include a dirty air inlet, configured to receive air and soliddebris entrained within the air, and a separate dirty liquid inlet,configured to receive liquids.

The dirty air inlet and dirty liquid inlet, and any other inlets, may bespaced apart from each other, or optionally may be at least partiallynested within each other. For example, the dirty air inlet may bepositioned forward of the dirty liquid inlet, in a direction of travelof the apparatus 100—indicated by arrow 106 in FIG. 1. This may helpensure that the dirty air inlet reaches and draws in solid material fromthe surface before the dirty liquid inlet travels over that portion ofthe surface. This may help prevent fouling of the dirty liquid inlet. Anadvantage of this design is that a user may use the same surfacecleaning head to vacuum and then extract and may do so in a singleoperation.

Alternately, a single dirty fluid inlet 104 may be configured to receiveboth relatively dry and relatively wet materials. For example, a singledirty fluid inlet may be reconfigurable (e.g., by reducing thecross-sectional area of part of the flow path through a nozzle in adirection transverse to a direction of air flow therethrough) to haveincreased air flow at the inlet when used to draw in relatively wetmaterials (e.g., when operated in an extractor mode).

Except as required by an embodiment using a particular feature disclosedherein, the surface cleaning head 102 may be of any suitable design(including any of those described herein), and may include a variety offeatures, such as rotating brushes, static brushes, squeegees, liquidapplication nozzles or sprayers, treatment units, motors, lights and thelike.

Referring also to FIG. 2, in the illustrated example, the surfacecleaning head may include a body 108, a pair of rear wheels 110connected to the body to rollingly support the surface cleaning head 102above a surface to be cleaned and, optionally a pair of front wheels orglides. If the surface cleaning apparatus is an upright surface cleaningapparatus, then the surface cleaning head 102 may also include a supportmember 112 that is moveably (e.g., pivotally) connected to the body 108by, e.g., a pivot joint 109 so as to be able to pivot about an axis 114,between an upright, storage position (FIG. 1) and an inclined, surfacecleaning position (FIG. 2) and an upright section 116 that is mounted tothe support member 112. Upright section 116 may be optionally removablymounted to support member 112.

Optionally, the upright section 116 may also be steeringly connected tothe surface cleaning head 102. For example the upright section 116 maybe movable in at least one other degree of freedom relative to thesurface cleaning head 102 to help facilitate steering of the surfacecleaning head 102. For example, the upright section 116 may be rotatablyconnected to the support member 112 so that it can rotate about itslongitudinal axis 118 relative to the surface cleaning head 102.Alternatively, or in addition, the upright section 116 may be pivotableabout a different, second (e.g., a forwardly extending horizontal) pivotaxis relative to the surface cleaning head 102. A drive handle 386 maybe provided on the upright section 116, optionally toward its upper end,and a user may grasp the drive handle 386 to maneuver and/or steer thesurface cleaning apparatus 100 across a surface.

As exemplified, the upright section 116 may include a cleaning unit 120(which as exemplified in FIG. 4 may be a portable cleaning unit) whichmay optionally be fluidly connected to the dirty fluid inlet 104 via afluid flow path or passage when removed from the upright section. Asexemplified, the fluid flow path may include at least one flexible fluidflow conduit member, in the form of a hose 122, and at least one rigidfluid flow conduit member (a wand) 125.

At least one suction motor, provided in a motor housing, and at leastone fluid treatment unit are provided in the fluid flow path to separatedirt, debris, and/or liquids from the fluid traveling through theapparatus 100. In the illustrated example, the suction motor, motorhousing and the treatment unit are both provided in the cleaning unit120.

The fluid treatment unit may include any suitable treatment apparatuses,including one or more momentum separators, one or more cyclonicseparators, one or more filters, bags and the like. Preferably, at leastone treatment apparatus is provided in the fluid flow path upstream fromthe suction motor.

Upright Embodiment with Stacked Configuration

In accordance with one aspect of the teachings described herein, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspects described herein, anexemplary embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 may beconfigured as a generally, upright-style cleaning apparatus and may bearranged so that at least some of its operating components are generallyvertically stacked on top of each other. Optionally, the surfacecleaning apparatus may also be configured so that at least a portion ofthe fluid passage extending between its first stage liquid separator andits second stage cyclone separator is located toward the front side ofthe upright section.

In accordance with this aspect, two or more, and optionally three ormore, operational components of the apparatus are vertically stacked,and optionally vertically aligned, in the upright section 116. Theoperating components may be one or more separators, and optionally twoor more separators (e.g., a liquid separator and a downstream dryseparator), and a suction motor.

An advantage of stacking the components is that it may help reduce theoverall size of the cleaning unit 120. It may also help simplify thefluid flow path within the cleaning unit 120, which may help reducebackpressure in the fluid flow path or otherwise help improve theefficiency of the cleaning unit 120. Further, this will enable a liquidseparator to be provided at a lower elevation and reduce the energyrequired during operation of the apparatus as the water need not beraised to atop of the upright surface cleaning apparatus.

As exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cleaning unit 120 includes asuction motor 124 that is positioned in a motor housing 126. The motor124 has a motor axis of rotation 128 for a fan blade (not shown), whichoptionally extends generally vertically as exemplified. In theillustrated example, the cleaning unit 120 also includes a downstreamseparation stage that is operable to separate debris and/or entrainedliquid from the air that is flowing through the cleaning unit 120. Theseparation stage also includes a separator that operable to separatesolid particulate matter or debris form the air flow. It will beappreciated that the upright section 116 may include one or more liquidseparators for removing liquid from the air flow, one or more dryseparators for removing dirt and other dry debris from the air flow,and/or one or more combination separators that is operable tosimultaneously separate liquid and dry debris. All of these may beincluding in cleaning unit 120.

As exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6, the separation stage includes atreatment unit 130 which is configured as a two stage treatment unithaving a first stage separator 132 and a second stage separator 134positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the first stageseparator 132, and upstream from the suction motor 124.

In this embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes asurface cleaning head 102 (having a front end 350 including the dirtyfluid inlet 104) and the upright section 116 is moveably mounted to thesurface cleaning head 102, between an upright storage position (FIG. 5)and a reclined surface cleaning position (like that shown in FIG. 2).The upright section 116 has a front side 117, an opposing rear side 119,the first stage liquid separator 132 has a liquid separator fluid inlet146 downstream from the dirty fluid inlet 104 and a liquid separatorfluid outlet 150. A second stage cyclone separator 134 includes acyclone chamber 142 that has a cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152 and acyclone chamber air outlet 158. The suction motor 124 is downstream fromthe second stage cyclone separator 134 and has a suction motor inlet end135. It will be appreciated that any momentum separator and cyclone maybe used.

As exemplified, the first stage liquid separator 132 is positioned suchthat the outlet of the first stage liquid separator 132 is below theinlet of the second stage separator 134. It will be appreciated that thefirst stage liquid separator 132 may be below, and may underlie, thesecond stage separator 134. Accordingly, in accordance with this aspect,at least a portion of a fluid passage 149 that fluidly connects theliquid separator fluid outlet 150 to the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152may extend generally upwardly when the upright section 116 is in thestorage position (FIG. 5).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the fluid passage 149 is located atthe rear side 119 of the upright section 116. In this embodiment, thecyclone separator 134 is positioned above and downstream from the firststage liquid separator 132 when the upright section is in the storageposition (FIG. 5). However, as exemplified in FIG. 8, fluid passage 149may be located at the front side, or on a lateral side on cleaning unit120 towards the front side.

Optionally, each of the first and second stage separators 132, 134 mayinclude a single separating apparatus (e.g. a single cyclone chamber, asingle liquid separator such as a momentum separator) and/or two or moreseparating apparatuses arranged in parallel with each other (e.g. two ormore cyclone chambers arranged in parallel). Alternatively, instead ofhaving two separating stages, the treatment unit 130 may include only asingle stage separator (with one or more separating apparatuses) orthree or more separating stages in series with each other.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the first stage separator 132 is amomentum separator 140 (of any suitable configuration) that isconfigured to help separate water and other liquids from the incomingdirty fluid flow, and the second stage separator 134 is a singlecyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber 142 and an externalsolid collection chamber 144 and that is configured to help separatedust, dirt and other solid debris from the dirty fluid flow.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the momentum separator 140 includesa momentum separator fluid inlet 146 that is provided in a lower surface147 of the liquid separator 132, at least one liquid collectionreservoir, which in this embodiment is a liquid collection container orreservoir 148 and a momentum separator fluid outlet 150. Any momentumseparator may be used. The momentum separator fluid inlet 146 can befluidly connected to the surface cleaning head 102 to receive theincoming dirty fluid. Liquid separated from the fluid flow can beretained in the liquid collection container 148. After at least some,and preferably when a majority and/or substantially all of the liquidentrained in the air entering via a dirty fluid inlet has been separatedfrom the dirty fluid flow drawn in via the dirty air inlet, theremaining dirty fluid flow can exit via the momentum separator fluidoutlet 150 and travel through a suitable fluid passage (which may butoptionally does not include the hose 122 and wand 125 in thisembodiment) to a dirty air inlet 152 of the cyclone chamber 142. Anycyclone separator may be used. The dirty fluid may then circulate withinthe cyclone chamber 142 about a longitudinal cyclone axis 154 (which mayextend generally vertically as exemplified) which can help disentraindirt and other solid debris (which may be wet from exposure to a liquidapplied by the apparatus) from the fluid flow. The cyclone may comprisea solid collection chamber 114 that is external to the cyclone chamber142. The separated debris can exit the cyclone chamber 142 via aseparated element outlet 156 (FIG. 5) and accumulate in the solidcollection chamber 144. The fluid can then exit the cyclone chamber 142via the cyclone chamber air outlet 158 and flow downstream toward thesuction motor. Depending on the configuration of the separator, theseparated element outlet 156 may receive dry dirt and debris particles,separated liquid and/or a combination of dry debris and liquid.

In this embodiment, and in several other embodiments described herein,the second stage separator 134 (e.g. the cyclone separator) overlies atleast a portion of, and optionally all of, the first stage liquidseparator 132 (e.g. the momentum separator 140 as illustrated). This mayhelp reduce the overall lateral size of the cleaning unit 120.

It will be appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment (such as shownin FIG. 7 or 8), the remaining dirty fluid flow after exiting via themomentum separator fluid outlet 150 may travel via a conduit to thecyclone air inlet without passing through the hose 122 and wand 125. Anadvantage of such embodiments is that wand 125 and hose 122 may only beused for dry cleaning activities, and therefore may not have water orwet particulate matter travel therethrough.

As exemplified, a pre-motor filter 160 may positioned in the fluid flowpath (optionally within a pre-motor filter housing or pre-motor chamber161), between the treatment unit 130 and the suction motor 124, tofurther filter air exiting the treatment unit 130 before it enters thesuction motor 124. The pre-motor filter 160 may be any suitable filtermember, including one or more layers of porous media filters (such asfoam, felt and the like). An optional post-motor filter (not shown) mayalternately or in addition be provided in the fluid flow path, betweenthe suction motor 124 and the clean air outlet 138 of the apparatus 100(see also FIG. 2).

In this example, suction motor housing 126 is positioned above the firststage separator 132 and below the second stage separator 134. This mayhelp reduce the overall front/back and/or side to side width of thecleaning unit 120, for example as compared to a configuration in whichthe suction motor housing is positioned forward, rearward or laterallybeside the treatment unit 130 or portions thereof. In the illustratedarrangement, the suction motor 124 is oriented vertically, such that themotor axis 128 is substantially parallel to the cyclone axis 154, and tothe direction the dirty fluid flow is travelling as it enters themomentum separator 140 (illustrated by axis 163 in FIG. 6). In someconfigurations two or more of these axes 128, 154 and 163 may beco-axial with each other. In this embodiment, and in others describedherein, the suction motor axis of rotation 128 intersects both the firststage liquid separator 132 and the second stage cyclone separator 134.

Preferably, if the treatment unit 130 is configured to include a liquidseparator, such as the momentum separator 140, the liquid separator maybe provided toward the lower end of the treatment unit 130 and/orcleaning unit 120. As liquid is relatively heavy, as compared to air,positioning any liquid separators relatively low in the apparatus 100may help lower the centre of gravity of the cleaning unit 120 and/orapparatus 100. This may help reduce help improve the hand feel of theapparatus 100 when in use, and may help reduce the amount of liftingand/or rotational forces exerted on the user's hand/wrist when pushingand steering the apparatus. Positioning any liquid separators relativelylow in the apparatus 100 may also reduce the distance/elevation thatwater and other liquids will travel from the surface cleaning head 102to the liquid separator. Reducing the elevation that the liquids travelwithin the fluid flow path may help reduce the amount of energy requiredto motivate the dirty fluid flow. The dirty fluid that has had itsliquids substantially removed can then continue to travel furtherupwardly within the apparatus 100, such as to the second stage separator134 provided toward the top of the cleaning unit 120. Positioning liquidseparators toward the bottom of the cleaning unit 120 may also helpreduce the likelihood that liquids other operating components of theapparatus 100 will come in to contact with the liquid, such as, forexample if liquid happens to leak from the liquid collection container148.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the suction motor 124and its housing 126 are positioned above the momentum separator 140 andbelow the cyclonic separator. That is, between the first stage separator132 and second stage separator 134. This configuration is preferred ifthe cyclone is an inverted cyclone as exemplified. In such aconfiguration, the air may exit the cyclone and travel axiallydownwardly to the suction motor. This configuration may further helplower the centre of gravity of the apparatus 100, as the suction motor124 can be relatively heavy, as compared to the cyclonic separator.Alternatively, the apparatus may be configured so that the suction motor124 is positioned above or below the treatment unit 130, rather thanbetween two separators. For example, as exemplified in FIGS. 7 and 8, ifthe cyclone is not an inverted cyclone and has an air outlet at theupper end, the air may exit the cyclone and travel upwardly to thesuction motor. In this embodiment, the suction motor 124 is positionedabove the entire treatment unit 130, i.e. above both the first separator132 and the second separator 134.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the fluid flow path is configured such thatdirty fluid is conveyed from the surface cleaning head 102 to the firstseparator 132, and then into the second separator 134 without travellingthrough a flexible hose or elongate conduit section that extends pastthe suction motor housing 126, or other intervening portions of thecleaning unit 120. In this embodiment, the liquid separator fluid outlet150 is positioned at an upper end of the liquid separator and thecyclone chamber air outlet 158 is positioned at an upper end of thecyclone chamber 142 and the suction motor inlet end 135 faces towardsthe cyclone chamber air outlet 158. In this embodiment, the cycloneseparator 134 is positioned above the first stage liquid separator 132and the suction motor 124 is positioned above the cyclone separator 134.The cleaning unit 120 is also configured so that in this embodiment (andin the embodiment of FIG. 8), the liquid separator fluid outlet 150 ispositioned at an upper end of the momentum separator 132,140, thecyclone chamber air outlet 158 is positioned at an upper end of thecyclone chamber 142 and the suction motor inlet end 135 faces towardsthe cyclone chamber air outlet 158, while the optional pre-motor filter160 is positioned between the suction motor inlet end 135 and thecyclone chamber air outlet 158.

Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus100 is configured so that some or all of the flow path from the momentumseparator air outlet to the cyclone air inlet 152 is provided towardsthe front side of the treatment unit 130. In this embodiment, at least aportion of a fluid passage 149 that fluidly connects the liquidseparator fluid outlet 150 to the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152extends generally upwardly when the upright section 116 is in thestorage position (FIG. 5, and is located at the front side 119 of theupright section 116.

When the upright section 116 is reclined in the surface cleaningposition, liquid that is contained in the liquid collection container148 may tend to collect along the rear portion of the first separator132, as the rear portion will tend to be at a lower elevation than thefront portion of the first separator 132. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,for example, this may tend to direct the liquid toward the momentumseparator fluid outlet 150, and the cyclone air inlet 152 that isconnected thereto. If the liquid reaches the cyclone air inlet 152 (oris close enough to be drawn in by the fluid flow), the liquid may enterthe cyclone chamber 142 and/or continue through the fluid flow path andpossibly reaching the suction motor 124. This may damage or otherwiseinterfere with the operation of the cyclone chamber 142 and/or suctionmotor 124. The higher the level of the liquid within the liquidcollection container 148, the more likely it may be for the liquid toflow out via the momentum separator fluid outlet 150. Positioning someor all of the flow path from the momentum separator air outlet to thecyclone air inlet 152 towards the front of the treatment unit 130, suchas on the front side, may help reduce the likelihood that liquid willflow into the cyclone air inlet 152 when the upright section isreclined.

As exemplified in FIG. 8, the cyclone air inlet 152 may be provided atthe forward most portion of the treatment unit 130. Alternatively, thecyclone air inlet 152 may be positioned at another location that isgenerally in the front/forward half of the treatment unit 130, i.e. thatis forward of a central dividing plane 166, and optionally that isforward of the motor axis 128 and cyclone axis 154.

As exemplified in FIG. 8, providing the momentum separator fluid outlet150 towards the front of the treatment unit 130 may help facilitate arelatively direct connection between the momentum separator fluid outlet150 and the cyclone air inlet 152 (e.g. a relatively short fluid flowpath with few to no bends), even when the cyclone air inlet 152 isprovided in the forward half of the treatment unit 130. Alternatively,the momentum separator fluid outlet 150 may remain at the rear, or inthe rear half, of the treatment unit 130 and may be connected to thecyclone air inlet via a forwardly extending conduit or other portion ofthe fluid flow path. In such an arrangement, the momentum separatorfluid outlet 150 and the cyclone air inlet 152 may be provided onopposing halves (front half, back half) of the treatment unit 130, whilestill permitting the cyclone air inlet 152 to be in the forward half,and helping to prevent the flow of liquid into the cyclone air inlet152.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the liquid separator fluid outlet 150 ispositioned at an upper end of the liquid separator and the cyclonechamber air outlet 158 is positioned at an upper end of the cyclonechamber 142 and the suction motor inlet end 135 faces towards thecyclone chamber air outlet 158.

Optionally, some embodiments of the surface cleaning apparatus 100(including those shown in FIGS. 1-12) may be configured so that at leasta portion of the solid collection chamber is positioned laterallybeside, and generally at the same elevation as a separated liquidreservoir of the liquid separator.

Optionally, the cleaning unit 120 may be configured so that at least aportion of the solid collection chamber of the second separator stage ispositioned at about the same elevation as the separated liquid reservoirof the first separation unit. This may help reduce the overall size ofthe cleaning unit 120. Referring also to FIGS. 17A and 17B, an exampleof a two stage separator is shown in which the solid collection chamber144 associated with the cyclone chamber 142 of the second separatorstage 134 is configured to extend beyond the lower end of the cyclonechamber 142 and to be at the same elevation (i.e. to at least partiallyaxially overlap) as the liquid collection container 148, such that aportion of the solid collection chamber 144 is laterally adjacent and atleast partially laterally surrounds the liquid collection container 148.

It will be appreciated that a stacked configuration as disclosed hereinmay also be used for, e.g., a canister style apparatus or a hand helpapparatus.

Momentum Separator with Two Inlets

In accordance with one aspect of the teachings described herein, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspects described herein, amomentum separator may have one or more side wall inlets.

As exemplified in FIGS. 18A and 18B, a momentum separator has anoptional openable lid removed to reveal the interior of the separator140. This embodiment of the momentum separator 140 may be positionablein the surface cleaning head 102, for example as an alternative to theliquid separator shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14. In thisembodiment, the momentum separator 140 is generally rectangular inshape, and include a front wall 416, rear wall 418 spaced rearwardlyfrom the front wall 416, opposing sidewalls 420 and a lower wall 178.The upper end of the momentum separator 140 can be enclosed by aremovable upper lid 194 (not shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B). Together, thewalls help define a generally rectangular liquid collection container148.

In this embodiment, two, separate dirty fluid inlets 146 are provided ina front wall 416 of the separator 140 to receive incoming dirty fluidflows. If the momentum separator 140 is provided in a surface cleaninghead 102, each dirty fluid inlet 146 may be in fluid communication withthe brush chamber (such as brush chamber 354 described herein) and dirtyfluid inlet 104. Extending inwardly from each dirty fluid inlet 146 is arespective inlet conduit 180, extending along generallyforward/rearwardly extending conduit axes 184, that helps direct theincoming fluid flow in the generally rearward direction as it enters themomentum separator 140. When travelling rearwardly, at least some of theincoming dirty fluid, and liquid entrained therein, may impact aninternal wall portion 186 which may help separate the liquid from theair flow. As exemplified, the internal wall portions 186 may beintegrally formed with the rear wall 418, instead of being provided as aseparate member projecting downwardly from the lid. In otherembodiments, the lid for this momentum separator may include downwardlydepending members that provide the internal walls 186 to be engaged bythe incoming fluid.

Liquid that is separated from the dirty fluid flow can then falldownwardly into, and be retained in, the liquid collection container 148and the relatively drier air flow can continue out via the liquidseparator fluid outlet 150 and travel downstream to a suitable secondseparator 134 (such as a cyclone chamber 142).

Optionally, a liquid porous divider, such as an embodiment of a screen298 can be provided within the liquid collection container 148, and maysub-divide the liquid collection container 148 into a lower portion(below/downstream from the screen 298) and an upper portion 148 a(similar to that shown in other embodiments herein). Preferably, most ofthe separated liquid can pass through the screen 298 and be collected inthe lower portion of the liquid collection container 148. The screen 298may help filter solid particles from the separated liquid (for optional,separate removal) and/or may help reduce the amount of sloshing orsplashing of liquid that is contained in the liquid collection container148 as the momentum separator 140 is moved forward and backward orotherwise jostled while in use. This may be preferable in configurationsin which the momentum separator 140 is provided in the surface cleaninghead 102, where it may be prone to repeated forward and backward motionas the surface cleaning head 102 is moved over a surface. The screen 298may include a frame supporting a wire mesh, as shown in this example, ormay be of any other suitable, liquid permeable configuration. The screen298 may optionally be removable, such as by lifting it upwardly and outof the open top of the momentum separator 140, to help facilitatecleaning and/or emptying of the liquid collection container 148 or thescreen 298 itself.

Solid and Liquid Collection Regions Emptyable Concurrently

In accordance with one aspect of the teachings described herein, whichmay be used in combination with any other aspects described herein, dualstage treatment units may be configured so that a solid collectionregion (e.g., the solid collection chamber 144) and the liquidcollection reservoir or region (e.g., liquid collection container 148)may be openable and/or may be emptied concurrently. In some embodiments,the solid collection chamber and the liquid collection reservoir may beopenable via a single operation. This may help facilitate emptying ofthe two stage treatment unit.

FIGS. 17A and 17B exemplify a treatment unit 130 having a firstseparator 132 that includes a momentum separator 140, and a secondseparator 134 that includes a cyclone chamber 142 wherein bothcollection regions are emptyable concurrently.

As exemplified, the momentum separator 140 is configured so thatseparator fluid inlet 146 includes an upstream end 176 provided in alower wall 178, and an inlet conduit 180 that extends upwardly along aninlet conduit axis 184, from the upstream end 176 to a downstream end182. The momentum separator 140 also optionally includes at least onebaffle or deflecting member that is position adjacent the downstream end182 of the separator fluid inlet 146. In this example, the deflectingmember includes a portion of the upper end wall 188 of the momentumseparator that overlies that downstream end 182, as well as an internalwall 186 that depends inwardly from the upper end wall 188 of themomentum separator 140. The deflecting member is preferably positionedsuch that an incoming stream of dirty fluid will impact the deflectingmember, i.e., will contact the upper end wall 188 and internal wall 186,upon entering the momentum separator 140. This may help cause the dirtyfluid stream to change direction relatively quickly, which may tend tohelp separate liquids from the fluid flow. To exit the momentumseparator 140, in the illustrated embodiment, the fluid can travelthrough the momentum separator fluid outlet 150 which is, in thisconfiguration, provided in the upper end wall 188 and preferably at thefront side if the momentum separator is provided on an upper section.The separated liquids, and any other solids and debris, may tend tocollect in the liquid collection container 148, while the remainingportion of the incoming dirty fluid flow can continue downstream to thesecond separator 134.

From the momentum separator fluid outlet 150, the dirty fluid can flowinto the cyclone chamber 142 via the cyclone air inlet 152. Debrisseparated from the air flow via the cyclonic swirling (about cycloneaxis 154) can travel through the cyclone separated element outlet 156and fall into the solid collection chamber 144. In the illustratedexample, the solid collection chamber 144 is external the cyclonechamber 142 and is positioned generally beside, and at least partiallysurrounding the momentum separator 140. This may help reduce the overallsize of the treatment unit 130 and facilitate the concurrent emptying ofthe collection regions. For example, referring to FIG. 17B, in theillustrated embodiment the second separator 134 is removably mounted tothe upper end of the first separator 132.

As exemplified in FIGS. 17A and 17B, at least a portion, and optionallythe entire upper end wall 192 of the cyclone chamber 142 can be openableto help facilitate emptying of the cyclone chamber 142. Optionally, theupper wall 192 may be openable at the same time as the cyclone chamber142 is detached from the momentum separator 140, such that the liquidcollection container 148, solid collection chamber 144 and cyclonechamber 142 can be open at the same time. In some arrangements, anactuator may be provided so that the upper wall 192 is openable.

In this configuration, the cyclone chamber 142 forms part of an openablelid 194 of the momentum separator 140, wherein a lower cyclone end wall190 and the upper end wall 188 of the momentum separator 140 are part ofa common lid structure 194. This lid 194 also includes the momentumseparator fluid outlet 150 and the cyclone separated element outlet 156,as well as the internal wall 186. When the cyclone chamber 142 isremoved, the liquid collection container 148 and the solid collectionchamber 144 are simultaneously opened for emptying, maintenance and thelike and are emptyable concurrently. In this configuration, both thesolid collection chamber 144 and the separated liquid collectioncontainer 148 have an openable top, but in other embodiments may haveopenable bottoms, sidewalls and the like.

In the illustrated example, the cyclone chamber 142 overlies the liquidcollection container 148 portion of the momentum separator 140, and islaterally offset from (i.e. does not overlie) the solid collectionchamber 144, such that the momentum separator is at least partiallynested beneath the cyclone chamber 142 and beside the solid collectionchamber 144. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the solidcollection chamber 144 can extend beneath the cyclone chamber 142, suchthat the cyclone chamber 142 overlies at least a portion of the solidcollection chamber 144 and the momentum separator 140.

In this embodiment, the top of the liquid collection container 148 isconfigured to have an openable lid 194 for emptying. Alternatively,other portions of the liquid collection container 148 may be openable,including, for example, the lower wall 178, and/or an openable port ordrain opening may be provide in one of the walls instead of having anopenable wall. Providing an openable lid 194 may be preferable in someinstances, as it may help reduce the likelihood of leaks developingaround the perimeter of an openable lower wall 178. In this embodiment,the openable top of the liquid collection container 148 includes thecyclone chamber 142.

In this embodiment, the solid collection chamber 144 is positionedlaterally beside the liquid collection container 148 and the cyclonechamber 142 is positioned above and overlies the liquid collectioncontainer 148 (and optionally, as shown, my not overlie the solidcollection chamber 144). In this arrangement, the cyclone axis ofrotation 154 intersects the liquid collection container 148, but doesnot intersect the solid collection chamber 144.

Optionally, the liquid collection container 148 and the solid collectionchamber 144 can be at least partially formed from integral, one-piececonstruction, in which the lower wall 178 is integrally formed with abottom wall 196 of the solid collection chamber 144, and the twocollection regions 148 and 144 are bounded by a common, integrallyformed sidewall portion 198 (FIG. 16). This may help reduce the chancesof leakage, and may help reduce the overall size of the treatment unit130.

In accordance with the exemplified embodiment, removing the cyclonechamber opens the upper end of the two collection regions 148 and 144,thereby permitting both collection regions to be emptied concurrently.Alternately, each collection region may have its one lid or openableupper end, which would still permit the two collection regions 148 and144 to be emptied concurrently. It will be appreciated that the twocollection regions 148 and 144 may be remote from the separators but maystill be emptied concurrently.

Optionally, the treatment unit 130 may be removable from the cleaningunit 120 (or wherever it is mounted to the apparatus 100) as a single,generally sealed unit. This may help simplifying the emptying processand/or may help reduce the likelihood of the contents of the liquidcollection container 148 and solid collection chamber 144 from spilling.For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the treatment unit 130 maybe separated from the surface cleaning apparatus 100 while in its closedconfiguration (other than fluid inlet and outlet conduits). In thisarrangement, the treatment unit 130 is substantially sealed, but for themomentum separator fluid inlet 146 and the cyclone chamber air outlet158. This can allow the liquid collection container 148, solidcollection chamber 144 and cyclone chamber 142 remain generally sealedwhile the treatment unit 130 is removed and transported to a sink,garbage can or the like for emptying. In this arrangement, the solidcollection chamber 144 and liquid collection container 148 are removablein their closed configuration.

Alternatively, instead of being configured to open simultaneously, theliquid collection container 148 and the solid collection chamber 144 maybe separately openable. For example, the liquid collection container 148may have an independently openable lid, and may be emptied (e.g. pouredinto a sink or drain) without also dumping the dry dirt and debris fromthe solid collection chamber 144 at the same time—or vice versa. Thismay help prevent unwanted mixing of wet and dry debris when emptying thetreatment unit 130.

Single Stage Separator with a Liquid Blocking Member

The following is a description of one example of a treatment unit thatis configured to separate liquid and solid debris from an incoming dirtyfluid flow using a single treatment stage, such as a cyclonic separationapparatus. This treatment unit may be suitable for use with the surfacecleaning apparatuses described herein, for example as an alternative tothe dual stage cleaning units.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a schematic representation of one exampleof a treatment unit 130 is configured to include a first separator 132that is a combined solid and liquid separator, and need not include asecond separator 134. In this example, the first separator 132 includesa cyclone chamber 142, having a dirty fluid inlet 152 that is configuredto accommodate an incoming dirty fluid stream that may include acombination of liquid and solid debris/contaminants, and a cyclonechamber air outlet 158. As the fluid swirls around the cyclone axis 154,at least some of the liquid and solid debris can become disentrainedfrom the fluid flow. Relatively cleaner and/or dryer fluid can then exitvia the cyclone chamber air outlet 158, and proceed downstream to apre-motor filter, suction motor and the like.

Debris that is separated from the fluid flow can exit the cyclonechamber 142 via a separated element outlet 156, that is analogous to theseparated element outlet 156 described in relation to a “dry” cycloneseparator, but that is also configured to convey separated liquid (e.g.water) and other wet debris. The separated debris is then collected in acombined solid and liquid collection container which, in this example,functions as both a solid collection chamber 144 and the liquidcollection container 148 described herein.

A single stage treatment unit 130 having some or all of the features ofthe embodiments shown in FIGS. 19-41 (or other suitable features) may bearranged in a variety of suitable orientations on the upright section116 or other location on the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For examplethe treatment unit 130 may be oriented so that the cyclone air inlet 152and cyclone chamber air outlet 158 are generally at the lower end of thecyclone chamber 142 when the upright section 116 is in the storageposition and floor cleaning positions. In such arrangements theseparated element outlet 156 could be located toward the upper end ofthe cyclone chamber 142. The separated element outlet 156 may also bepositioned so that is generally toward the front side of the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 (or cleaning unit 120), toward the rear side ofthe surface cleaning apparatus 100 (or cleaning unit 120) or facing oneof the left or right lateral sides of the surface cleaning apparatus 100(or cleaning unit 120). For example, if the a single stage treatmentunit 130 were used in combination with the surface cleaning apparatus100 of FIGS. 1-4, it may be oriented so that the separated elementoutlet 156 is located on the rear side of the cyclone chamber 142.Similarly, if a single stage treatment unit 130 were used in a hand heldsurface cleaning apparatus 100, such as in the embodiments of FIGS.64-66, the separated element outlet 156 may be provided toward the rearend of the hand held apparatus, which is the same end that includes thedrive handle 386 for the hand held apparatuses 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cyclone chamber air outlet 158includes an axially extending outlet conduit 240, also referred to as avortex finder, extending between an inner, inlet end 242 and an outletend 244. A relatively coarse mesh or screen 246 may be provided to coverthe inlet end 242 of the conduit 240, which may help prevent hair, fluffand other debris from exiting the cyclone chamber 142 via the cyclonechamber air outlet 158.

The treatment unit 130 of FIGS. 19 and 20 may be useable for treatingfluid containing both liquid and solid debris, but under some operatingconditions liquid, such as dirty water that has been disentrained fromthe fluid flow and has accumulated on the lower end wall 190 of thecyclone chamber 142, and may tend to swirl around the base of the outletconduit 240. In some circumstances, some of the liquid swirling aroundthe outlet conduit 240 may tend to creep up the outer surface of theoutlet conduit 240 toward the open, inlet end 242 and may pass throughthe screen 246 and flow out via the cyclone chamber air outlet 158.Under such conditions, liquid may continue downstream in the fluid flowpath, beyond the treatment unit 130 and may soil or clog otherdownstream filters (such as the pre-motor filter) and/or may interferewith or damage the suction motor. Accordingly, if substantial amounts ofliquid are to be collected, the embodiment of FIG. 19 may be preferablyused as a second stage separator.

Preferably, the solid collection chamber 144 and liquid collectioncontainer 148 (which in FIG. 19 is exemplified as a single container)can be openable for emptying. In the illustrated example, the uprightsection of the treatment unit 130 can be configured as an openable lid194 that can be pivoted, detached or otherwise opened to empty the solidcollection chamber 144 and liquid collection container 148. Optionally,as illustrated in FIG. 19, the upper end wall 192 of the cyclone chamber142 may also be part of the openable lid 194. In this arrangement,opening the lid 194 may simultaneously open the solid collection chamber144, the liquid collection container 148 and the cyclone chamber 142.This may help facilitate emptying of the first separator 132.

Optionally, as exemplified in FIGS. 20-27, to help prevent the liquidfrom escaping the cyclone chamber 142 via the cyclone chamber air outlet158, the treatment unit 130 may include one or more liquid blockingmembers to help impeded the flow and/or escape of liquids. The liquidblocking member may be of any suitable configuration.

Referring to FIG. 20, an embodiment of a single stage treatment unit 130is schematically illustrated and is configured an inverted cyclonechamber 142 similar to the embodiment of FIG. 19. This embodiment alsoincludes one example of a liquid blocking member that comprises ablocking collar 248 that is provided on, and extends generally radiallyoutwardly from an outer surface of the outlet conduit 240. The presenceof the blocking collar 248 may help inhibit the creep/progression ofliquids along the outer surface of the outlet conduit 240 before itreaches the inlet end 242. The liquids reaching the blocking collar 248may tend to fall off of the outlet conduit 240, back toward the lowerend wall 190. Without being limited by theory, the blocking collar 248may create a sub circulation zone that inhibits or prevents fluidtravelling upwardly above blocking collar 248. Some of this liquid mayremain in the cyclone chamber 142 (to be emptied when the cyclonechamber 142 is opened) and some of the liquid may become re-entrainedand exit the cyclone chamber 142 via the separated element outlet 156.

As exemplified, the blocking collar 248 is, in this example, a generallyannular, ring-like member having an inner end 250 abutting or attachedto the outlet conduit 240, and a free, radially outer end 252 that isspaced from the inner end 250 by a collar width 262, taken in the radialdirection (i.e. orthogonal to the cyclone axis 154). The collar width262 can be any suitable distance, and may be, for example between about0.01 inches and about 0.75 inches, between about 0.04 inches and about0.25 inches and may be between about 0.08 inches and about 0.125 inches.

The blocking collar 248 also includes, in this example, a first endsurface 254 (an upper surface as illustrated in FIG. 20) that is spacedfrom and faces the upper end wall 192, and an opposing second endsurface 256 (a lower surface as illustrated in FIG. 20) that is spacedfrom and faces the lower end wall 190. A radially outer side wall 258extends between the end walls 254 and 256, and is spaced radiallyinwardly from a side wall 260 of the cyclone chamber 142. End walls 254and 256 may be, planar, concave or convex. Side wall 258 may be planar,curved or angled with respect to the cyclone axis.

The first and second end surfaces 254 and 256 are separated from eachother by a collar height 264, taken in the axial direction. The collarheight 264 may be any suitable distance and may be, for example, betweenabout 0.01 inches and about 0.75 inches, between about 0.04 inches andabout 0.25 inches and may be between about 0.08 inches and about 0.125inches. In some embodiments, the collar width 262 may be equal to thecollar height 264. In other embodiments, the collar width 262 and collarheight 264 may be different.

In the illustrated configuration, a generally annular overhang region266 is defined as a portion of the interior of the cyclone chamber 142that is axially between the lower end wall 190 and the second endsurface 256.

The blocking collar 248 may be positioned at any suitable location alongthe length of the outlet conduit 240, including toward (and/or at) theinlet end 242, such that the first end surface 254 is generally flushwith the inlet end 242, below the inlet end 242 of the outlet conduit240 or at an intermediate location along the height (in the axialdirection) of the outlet conduit 240. Referring to FIG. 20, the blockingcollar 248 is positioned at the inlet end 242 of the conduit 240, and isspaced from the lower end wall 190 by a lower spacing distance 268, thatmay be any suitable distance and may be greater than the height of thecyclone inlet 152. Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, theblocking collar 248 is spaced from the inlet end 242 by an upper spacingdistance 270.

Optionally, the blocking collar 248 can be positioned so that it isbetween the cyclone air inlet 152 and the inlet end 242 of the outletconduit 240 in the axial direction. Referring again to FIG. 20, in thisembodiment, the cyclone fluid inlet 152 has a height 272 in the axialdirection and a corresponding width 274 in the radial/lateral direction.The blocking collar 248 may be positioned so that it is located at leastabove a mid-point of the height 272, and optionally may be positioned sothat it is spaced from the fluid inlet 152 in the axial direction, andthe lower spacing distance 268 may be greater than the inlet height 272.This is also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 21, where the blockingcollar 248 is closer to, but still spaced from the fluid inlet 152 (i.e.the distance 268 is still greater than 272). An inlet spacing distance276 can also be defined, which can be the axial distance between thefluid inlet 152 and the second end surface 256. This spacing 276 can beany suitable distance, and may be between about 0.5 and about 3 timesthe inlet height 272, and may be between about 1 and about 1.25 timesthe inlet height 272.

Alternately, or in addition, the blocking collar 248 may be configuredso that its side wall 258 is radially spaced inwardly from the fluidinlet 152. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 20, a radial offsetdistance 278 can be configured to be any suitable distance, and may be,for example, between about 0 inches and about 0.5 inches, and may bebetween about 0.05 inches and about 0.25 inches in some embodiments.

The blocking collar 248 may be of any suitable configuration, includingthe generally annular, ring-like shape shown in the embodiments of FIGS.20, 21 and 22 a and 22 b. In this embodiment, the side wall 258 isgenerally smooth and has a constant radius 280 (FIG. 22). The side wall258 is also configured to be generally axially extending, such thatrelatively sharp corners are formed at the intersection between the sidewall 258 and both the first and second end surfaces 254 and 256. Thismay help disrupt the flow of liquid past the blocking collar.

Alternatively, the blocking collar 248 may have a differentconfiguration. Referring to FIG. 23a , another embodiment of a blockingcollar 248 is configured so that the side wall 238 does not extend as acontinuous smooth surface, but instead includes alternating wide andnarrow regions 282 and 284, with different radii 280. Referring also toFIGS. 23b to 23d , the side wall 258 need not be axially extending, andinstead may have a chambered shape (FIG. 23b ), may taper to a point(FIG. 23c ) and/or may have a curved or radiused shape (FIG. 23d ). Inanother embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 24a to 24c , the blocking collar248 may have a generally toothed or saw-blade like shape, with a sidewall 258 that includes a plurality of teeth having alternating roots 286and tips 288 spaced around the perimeter of the side wall 258. Theblocking collar 248 may also be configured so that the first and secondend surfaces 254 and 256 are not symmetrical. For example, the first endsurface 254 may be smaller than the second end surface 256 (FIG. 24b )such that the blocking collar 248 generally tapers toward the first endsurface 254, or the first end surface 254 may be larger than the secondend surface 256 (FIG. 24c ) such that the blocking collar 248 generallytapers toward the second end surface 254. While shown in differentembodiments, an embodiment of the blocking collar 248 may include anycombination of the shapes and features described in any of FIGS. 23a to24 c.

When the treatment units 130 shown in FIG. 19, 20 or 21 are in use,hair, string and other such debris may become wrapped around the outersurface of the outlet conduit 240. As such debris accumulates it mayabsorb some liquid, and may have the effect of generally increasing thewidth of the lower portion of the outlet conduit 240. As this occurs,the effective width 262 of the blocking collar 248 may be reduced.Overtime, this may lead to some liquid travelling past the blockingcollar 248. To help inhibit such occurrences, the treatment unit 130 maybe provided with additional screens, deflectors and the like.

Referring to FIG. 25, another embodiment of a treatment unit 130 isshown including an optional lower, mesh or outlet conduit screen 290that is positioned between the blocking collar 248 and the lower endwall 190 and generally surrounds a lower portion of the outlet conduit240. This screen 290 may prevent hair from becoming wound around theouter surface of the outlet conduit 240, and instead hair may be woundaround the outer surface of the screen 290. As the screen 290 isconfigured to have openings, and to generally be liquid permeable,liquid in the cyclone chamber 142 may tend to flow radially inwardlythrough the hair wound around the screen 290, and through the screen 290itself and into the overhang region 266. The liquid may then circulatewithin the overhang region 266 and creep up the outer surface of theoutlet conduit 240, where it will encounter the blocking collar 248 asdescribed previously.

The lower screen 290 may be generally axially extending, as shown inFIG. 25, and the screen 246 may have an analogous, axial shape.Alternatively, the screens 290 and/or 246 may have differentconfigurations as exemplified in FIGS. 26 and 27.

Referring to FIG. 26, in this embodiment of a treatment unit 130, theupper screen 246 covering the inlet end 242 of the outlet conduit 240 isgenerally frusto-conical in shape and is tapered so that its lower end(seated on the inlet to the outlet conduit 240) is wider in the lateraldirection than the upper end of the screen 246. In this embodiment, thelower screen 290 also has a generally flared type configuration in whichit is wider toward the lower end wall 190 than it is toward its upperend (i.e. adjacent the blocking collar 248). In this embodiment, thelower end of the lower screen 290 extends outwardly a lateral (e.g.radial) distance 293 from the outer surface of the outlet conduit 240,that is greater than the collar width 262 (see also the embodiment ofFIG. 27). It will be appreciated that lower screen 290 may befrusto-conical in shape or otherwise tapered.

This generally tapered configuration may help facilitate the removal ofhair and other such debris, as a user may be able to more easily slidethe hair axially along the narrowing screen 290 and/or 246. In theembodiment of FIG. 26, the side wall 258 of the blocking ring isgenerally axial. Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 27,the side wall 258 may also be tapered so generally match thecurvature/tapering of the screens 290 and 246, such that a generallycontinuous outer surface is provided from the lower end of the screen290 (adjacent the end wall 190) to the free end of the screen 246. Thismay help facilitate the sliding removal of wound hair and other debris.

Optionally, the lower screen 290 can be arranged so that is spacedradially inwardly from the radially inner end of the cyclone fluid inlet152 by a radial screen offset distance 292. This distance 292 may be anysuitable distance, and may be, for example, between about 0 and about0.5 inches, and may be between about 0.05 inches and about 0.25 inches,and between about 0.1 inches and about 0.15 inches. This may helpprevent hair and other debris accumulating on the lower screen fromblocking the fluid inlet 152.

Single Stage Treatment Unit

The following is a description of a collection region for a treatmentunit that is configured to separate liquid and solid debris from anincoming dirty fluid flow using a single treatment stage, such as acyclonic separation apparatus. This treatment unit may be suitable foruse with the surface cleaning apparatuses described herein, for exampleas an alternative to the dual stage cleaning units. In accordance withthis aspect, a single collection region may extend to a position belowthe separation chamber (e.g., it may be longer than the separationchamber). Alternately, or in addition, the collection region may besubdivided, such as by a screen or other water permeable material, intoa liquid collection region at a lower end and a solid collection regionabove the screen.

In the embodiments of FIG. 19, the treatment unit 130 is configured suchthat the axial height 294 of the collection chamber (which essentiallyfunctions as a combined solid collection chamber 144 and liquidcollection container 148) is generally the same as the axial height 296of the cyclone chamber 142. This may help reduce the overall axialheight of the treatment unit 130.

Alternatively, as exemplified in FIG. 28, a combined collection chamber144, 148 may have a greater axial height 294 than the cyclone chamberaxial height 296. When this treatment unit 130 is in use, the solid andliquid exiting the cyclone chamber will enter into the combinedcollection chamber 144, 148. The separated material may tend to separateand/or stratify, with liquid tending to collect toward the lower end ofthe area, and some types of solid debris remaining toward the upper endand denser material falling to the bottom. This debris collection areamay be emptied by opening the lid 194, and an optional drain port 297may be provided if desired.

An advantage of providing a combined collection chamber 144, 148 with agreater axial height is that liquid is less likely to slosh or otherwisetravel back into the cyclone chamber when the apparatus is in use,particularly if the apparatus is an upright apparatus and the uprightsection containing the combined collection chamber 144, 148 is reclines.

In addition to having an increased axial height, or if the axial heightsof the cyclone chamber and combined collection chamber 144, 148 are thesame, a divider may be positioned in the combined collection chamber144, 148 to help separate the liquid and solid debris that is ejectedfrom the separated element outlet 156. The divider may be liquidpermeable, such as a screen or mesh, such that liquid debris may tend toflow through the divider due to gravity while solid debris of a givensize is caught by the divider. This may help segregate the liquid andsolid debris.

Referring to FIG. 29, this embodiment of the treatment unit 130 includesa debris divider, comprising a porous screen 298, that is positioned inthe debris collection region and helps define an upper region thatfunctions as a solid collection chamber 144 and a lower region thatfunctions as a liquid collection container 148 (with upper and lowerdescribing the position of the regions when the surface cleaningapparatus is in a floor cleaning orientation). The screen 298 may belocated at any suitable elevation and may be of any desiredconfiguration. In the embodiment of FIG. 29 it extends generallyhorizontally or rearwardly from an outer surface of the side wall 260 ofthe cyclone chamber 142 to an outer rear wall of the combined collectionchamber 144, 148.

In this embodiment, the debris divider 298 functions as aporous/permeable a lower wall of solid collection chamber 144. Also inthis configuration, liquid exiting the cyclone chamber 142 travelsthrough the solid collection chamber 144 before reaching the liquidcollection container 148. That is, the liquid collection container 148is generally downstream from the solid collection chamber 144.

The divider 298 may also function, in some embodiments, as a backflowinhibiting apparatus. For example, while illustrated in a generallyupright configuration in FIG. 29 (i.e. with the cyclone axis 154generally vertical), the treatment unit 130 may tend to be inclined whenthe surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use. If, for example, thetreatment unit 130 is provided on the upright section 116 of an uprightstyle surface cleaning apparatus 100, it may be inclined at angles of upto 45 degrees, 65 degrees, 75 degrees, 80 degrees, 85 degrees and about90 degrees from vertical (i.e. it may extend substantially horizontal).When the treatment unit 130 is inclined, liquid that has accumulated inthe liquid collection container 148 may tend to slosh and splash around,and in some configurations may tend to flow backwards towards thecyclone chamber 142 as the upright section is reclined. That is, theliquid may tend to flow from the liquid collection container 148 throughthe solid collection chamber 144 (if applicable) and the separatedelement outlet 156 and into the cyclone chamber 142. This may interferewith operation of the cyclone chamber 142, and/or may allow liquid toescape through the cyclone chamber 142 and continue downstream in thefluid flow path.

Providing a divider 298 as shown in FIG. 29 may help impede the backflow of liquid from the liquid collection container 148 into the solidcollection chamber 144 and/or cyclone chamber 142. Optionally, more thanone divider 298 can be provided, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 30,which may help to further dampen splashing and/or backflow of the liquidheld in the liquid collection container 148.

Optionally, the divider 298 may be configured to extend bothhorizontally and axially. This may help provide an arrangement in whichthe screen has a larger surface area. Referring to FIG. 31, for example,one embodiment of the treatment unit 130 includes a divider screen 298that is generally L-shaped and extends horizontally across most of thesolid collection chamber, and then extends axially and optionally canextend to the openable lid 194. In this embodiment, the liquidcollection container 148 includes an upright section 148 a that axiallyoverlaps the solid collection chamber 144, and two walls of the solidcollection chamber 144 (the lower wall and the right side wall asillustrated) are formed from liquid pervious mesh. This can helpfacilitate drainage of the liquid from the solid collection chamber 144,as liquid can be drawn by gravity through the lower end of the solidcollection chamber 144 when the treatment unit 130 is upright (as shownin FIG. 31), and may be drawn by gravity through the rear side wall ofthe solid collection chamber 144 when the treatment unit 130 is inclinedin a surface cleaning position.

The upright section 148 a may also provide a region into which liquidcan flow/slosh when the treatment unit 130 is reclined. The uprightsection 148 a may also help facilitate emptying of the liquid collectioncontainer 148, as it can provide a passage from the lower portion to theopen upper end of the treatment unit 130 (e.g. when the lid 194 isremoved) through which liquid can flow without having to pass throughthe divider 298 or solid debris in the solid collection chamber 144.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 32, the treatment unit130 may include a divider 298 that includes both horizontal and axialportions that are connected by a generally curved juncture surface,instead of a relatively sharp corner, while still being consideredgenerally L-shaped. A divider 298 of this design may be used in any ofthe embodiments described herein. This embodiment also includes anoptional second horizontal divider 298 positioned below and downstreamfrom the first, L-shaped divider 298 and extending across the entirewidth of the liquid collection container 148. In this configuration, theupper divider 298 may serve to help separate the solid collectionchamber 144 from the liquid collection container 148, while the lowerdivider 298 is positioned substantially entirely within the liquidcollection container 148 and may function primarily as a baffle or flowlimiting device.

In the embodiments in which the divider 298 includes both lateral andaxial portions, dirty fluid, liquid and debris can travel through thescreen in two or more different directions. For example, referring tothe embodiment of FIG. 31, separated liquid and solid debris may exitvia the separated element outlet 156 and may tend to be travelling in agenerally lateral or horizontal direction (i.e. from left to right asillustrated) when exiting the separated element outlet 156. Under theeffects of gravity, and possibly other factors, some portions of theliquid may reach the divider 298 while still travelling in the lateraldirection, and may pass through the divider 298 in a first transmissiondirection (from left to right). Once through the divider 298, liquidthat has been collected in the upper region 148 a may then tend totravel axially (downwardly) into the lower portion 148 b of the liquidcollection container. Other portions of the separated liquid may changedirection while within the solid collection chamber 144, and may betravelling generally axially when it reaches the laterally extendingportion of the divider 298 (i.e. downwardly as illustrated in thisexample), and may travel through the divider 298 in a secondtransmission direction, that is not parallel to the first transmissiondirection (i.e. is at an angle to first transmission direction, which inthis example would be about 90 degrees.). In this embodiment, the liquidmay also pass through the second, laterally extending divider 298 in thesecond transmission direction (i.e. generally axially or downwardly asillustrated).

It will be appreciated that, in these embodiment, the cyclone chamberand the solid and wet storage chambers may be concurrently emptied byopening a lid or top surface 196 of the treatment unit (see FIG. 31).

Single Stage Separator with Dual Separators

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, a single separator stage may includetwo or more separators arranged in parallel with each other in the fluidflow path. Such a separator may be considered a single stage separatoras the multiple separators, such as two or more cyclone chambers 142,are arranged in parallel and not in series with each other (i.e. onecyclone chamber 142 is not downstream from the other cyclone chamber142). Providing multiple separators in a single stage may help increasethe efficiency of the separator stage and/or may help increase the totalamount of incoming fluid that can be treated by the separator stage.This may also allow each individual separator to be smaller than asingle separator that is configured to handle the same volume of fluidflow, which may help reduce some of the dimensions of the separatorstage (e.g. it may be relatively shorter than a comparable singleseparator).

Referring to FIGS. 69-72, an embodiment of a treatment unit 130 that issuitable for use with any surface cleaning apparatuses 100 describedherein (e.g., either mounted in the surface cleaning head 102 or on theupright section 116) and includes a separator stage (such may be a firststage, a second stage or optionally may be a single stage as exemplifiedin FIG. 20) having two separate cyclone chambers 142 arranged inparallel with each other. As exemplified, each cyclone chamber has aliquid blocking collar 248 so that they are suitable to separate bothsolids and liquids and operable in a single stage separator.Accordingly, this embodiment may use any of the combined collectionchambers 144, 148 disclosed herein.

In this embodiment, dirty fluid can enter the separator stage 132 via astage inlet passage 422, and the cyclone chamber fluid inlets 152 ofeach cyclone chamber 142 are in communication with the stage inletpassage 422. Each cyclone chamber 142 may include a single fluid inlet152 as shown in other embodiments herein or, as illustrated in FIG. 71,may include two separate fluid inlets 152, each of which is in fluidcommunication with the stage inlet passage 422.

Referring also to FIG. 70, in which the upper lid (including upper walls192 and 194) has been removed from the separator stage 132, each cyclonechamber 142 also includes a separated element outlet 156, formed as aslot toward the upper end of the cyclone chamber 142, that is incommunication with an associated collection region, which as exemplifiedin this embodiment, may be a combined solid and liquid collection region144 and 148 (but in other embodiments may have any suitableconfiguration, including those described herein). The two combinedcollection chambers 144, 148 in this embodiment are fluidly isolated bya divider wall 424, but are arranged such that their upper walls 194,and the upper walls 192 of each cyclone chamber 142, are provided by acommon, openable lid. In this arrangement, the cyclones 142 and combinedcollection chambers 144, 148 can be opened simultaneously for emptying.

Single Stage Separator with Dual Separated Element Outlets

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, instead of including a singleseparated element outlet through which both solid and liquid debris andtravel from the cyclone chamber to the collection chamber (as shown inFIGS. 69-73), a separator may include two or more discrete separatedelement outlets, which can optionally be axially spaced apart from eachother (and preferably may be positioned toward opposing ends of theseparator). Each separated element outlet may be in communication with aseparate, discrete collection region/chamber, or alternatively may be incommunication with a common collection region/chamber.

Optionally, the separated element outlets may be provided at differentlocations/positions within the cyclone chamber, which may helpfacilitate separated debris to exit the cyclone chamber. Optionally, oneseparated element outlet may be provided toward a first or upper end ofthe cyclone chamber, and another separated element outlet may beprovided toward an opposing second or lower end of the cyclone chamber.In such configurations, the upper separated element outlet may receivemostly solid debris, while separated liquid may tend to collect towardthe bottom of the cyclone chamber and may tend to exit via the lowerseparated element outlet. Providing a separated element outlet towardthe lower end of the cyclone chamber may help separate water to drainfrom the cyclone chamber, and may help reduce the likelihood of theseparated liquid becoming re-entrained, creeping up the outside of theoutlet conduit 240 or otherwise being drawn into the cyclone chamber airoutlet 158.

Referring to FIG. 74, this embodiment of a treatment unit 130 includes acyclone chamber 142 having an upper separated element 156 a providedtoward the upper end of the cyclone chamber 142, and a lower separatedelement 156 b provided toward the lower end of the cyclone chamber 142.

When this cyclone chamber is in use, solid debris may tend to beseparated from the air stream and travel toward the upper end of thecyclone chamber 142, while at least some of the liquid separated fromthe incoming dirty fluid (and possibly some solid debris) may tend tocollect on the bottom wall 190 of the cyclone chamber. In thisarrangement, solid debris may tend to be discharged from the cyclonechamber 142 via the upper separated element 156 a, in much the samemanner as occurs with other examples of cyclone chambers 142 describedherein, while liquid accumulating on the lower wall 190 (or generallytoward the lower end of the cyclone chamber 142) may tend to drain outof the cyclone chamber 142 via the lower separated element 156 b. Thismay help provide a relatively low resistance path for separate liquid toexit the cyclone chamber 142, and may reduce the need for the relativelyheavy liquid particles to be lifted to the upper separated element 156 avia the air flow. This may help improve separation efficiency. Thisarrangement may also help prevent the separated liquid from accumulatingin the lower end of the cyclone chamber 142, and may help prevent theliquid from climbing the outlet conduit 240 and escaping via the cyclonechamber air outlet 158.

The exemplified cyclone chamber is suitable for use with any surfacecleaning apparatuses 100 described herein (e.g., either mounted in thesurface cleaning head 102 or on the upright section 116). The cyclonechamber may be a first stage, a second stage or optionally may be asingle stage as exemplified in FIG. 20. As exemplified, the cyclonechamber has a liquid blocking collar 248 so that it is suitable toseparate both solids and liquids and operable in a single stageseparator. Accordingly, this embodiment may use any of the combinedcollection chambers 144, 148 disclosed herein.

Single Stage Separator with Uniflow Cyclone Chamber

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the cyclone chamber(s) 142 mayconfigured such that the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152 and the cyclonechamber air outlet 158 are positioned toward the same end of the cyclonechamber 142. Embodiments in which the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152and the cyclone chamber air outlet 158 are at a lower end may bereferred to as inverted cyclones. Alternatively, the cyclone chamber 142may be configured with the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152 and thecyclone chamber air outlet 158 at different ends of the cyclone chamber142 and may be referred to as a uniflow cyclone chamber.

Optionally, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 75-77, a uniflowcyclone can be configured with the cyclone chamber fluid inlet 152 atthe bottom end, and the cyclone chamber air outlet 158 located at theupper end. This may help reduce the likelihood of liquid escaping thecyclone chamber 142 via the cyclone chamber air outlet 158.

In addition, the screen 246 that covers the cyclone chamber air outlet158 can be arranged such that it extends downwardly from the upper endwall 192 of the cyclone chamber 142 (FIG. 76) but remains spaced apartfrom and does not contact the lower end wall 190. Providing a gapbetween the lower end of the screen 246 and the lower end wall 190 ofthe cyclone chamber 142, upon which liquid may accumulate while thecyclone chamber 142 is in use, may help prevent liquid from beingdrawing up the screen 246 and into the cyclone chamber air outlet 158.

While shown as part of a treatment unit 130 that includes two cyclonechambers 142 in parallel, the uniflow cyclone design could be used intreatment units that include only a single separator, and may be used incombination with any of the other features described herein.

Treatment Unit with Pre-Motor Filter

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the pre-motor filter chamber 161 maybe included as part of the treatment unit 130 (see for example FIG. 72),and may be removable with the treatment unit 130 from the rest of thesurface cleaning apparatus (as shown in FIG. 69). This may helpfacilitate the desired placement of the treatment unit and pre-motorfilter chamber, and may in some embodiments allow the pre-motor filterchamber to be positioned in the surface cleaning head, while the suctionmotor is positioned either in the surface cleaning head or optionally onthe upright section. This may also help ensure that the air exiting thetreatment unit is relatively clean, which may reduce fouling of portionsof the air flow path between the outlet of the treatment unit and thesuction motor.

In the example, of FIG. 72, the pre-motor filter chamber 161 is incommunication with the cyclone chamber air outlets 158 from each cyclonechamber 142. After passing through the pre-motor filter chamber 161, thefluid can exit the separator stage 132 via a separator stage outletpassage 426, and continue downstream to the suction motor, additionalseparator stage or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pre-motor filter 160 is a formed froma porous, physical filter media (e.g. foam, felt and the like) and hasan upstream side 428 and an opposing downstream side 430. In thisembodiment, the upstream side 428 is positioned below and generallyfaces the cyclone chamber air outlets 158 for each cyclone chamber 142.That is, both cyclone chambers 142 are in communication with a commonpre-motor filter chamber 161 and air exiting both cyclone chambers 142is treated by a common pre-motor filter.

Optionally, the upstream side 428 of the pre-motor filter 160 may begenerally flat or planar, and may lie in a filter plane 432.

Separator with Inclined Pre-Motor Filter

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the filter plane 432 can be inclinedrelative to a reference plane 434 that is orthogonal to the direction ofair flow through the pre-motor filter 160. In this example, thereference plane 434 is also generally orthogonal to the cyclone axes 154and is generally horizontal as illustrated in FIG. 72, and the filterplane 432 is inclined at a filter angle 440, that is preferably betweenabout 0 degrees and about 45 degrees. If the pre-motor filter 160 isinclined in this manner, the upstream side 428 may have a width 436 thatis greater than the width 438 of the pre-motor filter chamber 161 in thesame direction but measured in the reference plane 434. Thisconfiguration may allow the pre-motor filter 160 to be relativelylarger, and for its upstream side to have a larger surfaced area than anon-inclined filter (i.e. a filter oriented such that its filter planeis parallel to the reference plane 434) positioned within the samepre-motor filter chamber 161. Providing a relatively larger filter, andupstream side surface area, may help improve air flow through thepre-motor filter 160 and/or may help extend the amount of time thepre-motor filter 160 can be used before becoming fouled or otherwiseclogged.

Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 73, the pre-motorfilter 160 may be arranged in a non-inclined manner, such that filterplane 432 is parallel to reference plane 434, and width 436 isapproximately the same as width 438.

Single Stage Separator with Openable Filter Chamber

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the pre-motor filter chamber may beopenable, optionally while the pre-motor filter chamber is installed inthe surface cleaning apparatus or if the pre-motor filter chamber isincluded as part of the treatment unit (such as treatment unit 130) andis removable from the rest of the surface cleaning apparatus with thetreatment unit and may be openable.

For example, at least one of the walls defining the pre-motor filterchamber may be removable or otherwise openable. Optionally, thepre-motor filter may remain in the pre-motor filter chamber when thechamber is opened, or alternatively the pre-motor filter may beremovable with the openable wall portion (such that removing the wallalso automatically extracts the pre-motor filter from the pre-motorfilter chamber). Optionally, the treatment unit may be configured sothat the upstream side of the pre-motor filter is visible to the usewhen the pre-motor filter chamber is opened. This may help a user easilyvisually inspect the condition of the pre-motor filter.

Referring to FIGS. 69-72 and 73, in these embodiments the pre-motorfilter chamber 161 includes a detachable bottom wall 442 that can beseparated from the cyclone separators 142 to provide access to thepre-motor filter 160. In these embodiments, the detachable bottom wall442 also includes a portion of the air flow conduit that extends fromthe pre-motor filter chamber 161 and the separator stage outlet passage426.

In the illustrated configuration, the pre-motor filter 160 is mounted onthe openable bottom wall 442, and is removable from the treatment unit130 with the bottom wall 442. In this arrangement, the upstream side 428of the pre-motor filter 160 is revealed when the bottom wall 442 isdetached. Alternatively, the treatment unit 130 could be configured toretain the pre-motor filter 160 while the bottom wall 442 is detached.In such embodiments, the downstream side 430 of the pre-motor filter 160would be revealed when the bottom wall 442 is opened.

If a separation stage includes more than one cyclone chamber, then acommon pre-motor filter 160 may be provided and may, e.g., underlie bothcyclone chambers 142, and a portion of the fluid inlet passage providedtherebetween and is forward of the solid collection chamber 144. Inother embodiments, separate pre-motor filters 160, in respectivepre-motor filter chambers 161 may be provided for each cyclone chamber142.

Optionally, instead of being positioned below the cyclone chamber(s)142, the pre-motor filter chamber 161 may be positioned above thecyclone chamber(s) 142. Referring to FIGS. 76-77, in this embodiment thedirty fluid enters the lower ends of the cyclone chambers 142 and thetreated air exits out the upper end of the cyclone chamber 142. In thisembodiment, the pre-motor filter chamber 161 overlies the upper ends ofthe cyclone chambers 142 and the upstream side 428 of the pre-motorfilter 160 is generally downward facing and opposes the cyclone chamberair outlets 158. To access the pre-motor filter 160, the upper wall 444of the pre-motor filter chamber 161 can be opened/detached. In thisembodiment, the pre-motor filter 160 is mounted to the underside of theopenable upper wall 444, and is removable from the treatment unit 130with the upper wall 444. In this arrangement, the upstream side 428 ofthe pre-motor filter 160 is revealed when the upper wall 444 isdetached. Alternatively, the treatment unit 130 could be configured toretain the pre-motor filter 160 while the upper wall 444 is detached. Insuch embodiments, the downstream side 430 of the pre-motor filter 160would be revealed when the upper wall 444 is opened.

Separator with Flow Control Baffles

In accordance with another aspect, that may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, instead of, or in addition to aporous, divider, the treatment unit 130 may include one or more flowlimiting devices to help prevent back flow of liquid from the liquidcollection container 148 into the cyclone chamber 142. The flow limitingdevice may be used with a combined collection chamber 144, 148 and maybe configured to allow liquid to flow from the solid collection chamber144 into the liquid collection container 148 and help prevent unwantedbackflow. It is also preferable that the flow limiting device can allowthe liquid to be emptied from the liquid collection container 148 whendesired.

Referring to FIG. 33, another embodiment of a treatment unit 130 isillustrated in a generally horizontal position. This treatment unitincludes a porous divider 298 that helps separate the solid collectionchamber 144 from the liquid collection container 148, which underliesthe solid collection chamber 144 when the treatment unit 130 is vertical(e.g. in the orientation shown in 32). In this embodiment, the treatmentunit 130 also includes a flow limiting device that includes a solidbaffle 300 extending inwardly from the rear sidewall of the liquidcollection container 148. The baffle 300 has a width 302 in the lateral(vertical in the orientation of FIG. 33) direction, but stops short ofthe front wall of the liquid collection container 148 leaving a flow gap304 having a gap width 306. The gap width 306 is selected to allowliquid to flow into the liquid collection container 148 when thetreatment unit 130 is in an upright or inclined position.

The baffle width 302 is selected so that the baffle 300 is large enoughto prevent the back flow of liquid, and to extend above a free surface308 of the liquid when the liquid collection container 148 is filled toits predetermined “fill” line. In this configuration, the baffle 300 maysubstantially prevent the backflow of liquid when the treatment unit 130is inclined with its rear end toward the floor (as shown). To empty theliquid collection container 148, the liquid collection container 148 canbe provide with an openable drain to help remove the liquid.

Referring to FIG. 34, in another embodiment, the baffle 300 can bemovable within the liquid collection container 148, and can pivot abouta pivot connection 310. For example, the baffle may be pivotallyconnected to a wall of the combined chamber 144, 148. This can allow thebaffle 300 to open, e.g., pivot downwardly when the combined chamber144, 148 is generally vertically oriented, which can widen the gap 304and help facilitate the flow of liquid into the liquid collectioncontainer 148. When the treatment unit 130 is sufficiently inclined, thebaffle 300 can be deployed (for example via a float, biasing member,actuator, manual switch and the like) to shrink the gap 304, extendabove the free surface 308 and help retain the liquid.

A plurality of baffles 300 may also be provided. As exemplified in FIG.35, alternating baffles 300, baffled provided on opposed sides of thecombined collection chamber 144, 148, are provided in the solidcollection chamber 144 and liquid collection container 148. Arrangingthe baffles 300 in this alternating manner can help create a torturousflow path for the liquid and may inhibit the back flow of liquid whenthe treatment unit 130 is inclined. Any suitable number of baffles 300,at any suitable spacing, may be used. It will be appreciated that one ormore of the baffles may be pivotally mounted.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 36, a baffle 300 may beused in combination with a divider 298 that extends both laterally andaxially. Also, as shown in this embodiment, the baffle 300 may beinclined and/or curved in a downward direction (when viewed with thetreatment unit 130 upright) to help promote the flow of liquid along theupper surface of the baffle 300 and into the flow gap 304 when thetreatment unit 130 is in use. This may help prevent liquid from beingtrapped above the baffle 300.

The baffles 300 may be formed from any suitable material, includingplastic, metal, open cell material, rubber, polymers and the like. Thebaffles 300 may be generally liquid impervious (i.e. generallynon-porous such that they do not absorb liquid) or may be at leastpartially liquid pervious and/or absorbent. Configuring the baffles 300to be absorbent may help the baffles 300 to absorb and sequester atleast some of the liquid they contact, which may further help preventsplashing and sloshing of liquid within the liquid collection container148. Optionally, one or more of the baffles 300 may include an open cellfoam material, and may have properties that are analogous to those ofthe sponge 316 described herein. Analogous compression members may alsobe provided in some embodiments to compress the baffles 300 and helpextract retained liquid, if suitable.

Remote Liquid Collection Container

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, a separation stage may include acollection chamber that receives at least liquid and optionally bothliquid and solid particulate matter (such as exemplified in FIG. 20)wherein a flow connection path is provided from the collection chamberto a separated liquid collection chamber. The separated liquidcollection chamber may be remote from the separation stage (e.g., it maybe located at a lower elevation) or in a separate part of the apparatus(e.g., the separator may be in an upright section 116 and the separatedliquid collection chamber may be in a surface cleaning head).Alternately, the flow path may essentially subdivide a combinedcollection chamber 144, 148 into two distinct collection chamberswhereby the separated liquid collection chamber is isolated from a solidcollection chamber 144.

Optionally, the fluid flow path may include one or more flow limitingdevices and/or may be configured as a generally one-way fluid flow paththat can facilitate transfer of liquid from the solid collection chamber144 to the liquid collection container 148 and inhibit and/or block flowin the opposite direction.

One advantage of this design is that the flow back of separated liquidmay be reduced or essentially prevented. A second advantage is that theliquid may be stored at a lower elevation, thereby lowering the centerof gravity of the apparatus when filled and also reducing the handweight perceived by a user.

As exemplified in FIG. 37, the liquid collection container 148 isdownstream from the solid collection chamber 144 and can be selectively,fluidically isolated from the solid collection chamber 144. In thisexample, the treatment unit has a flow limiting device that includes avalve 310 that can be opened when the treatment unit 130 is above apre-determined maximum incline angle to allow liquid to flow in theliquid collection container 148. The valve 310 can then be closed (FIG.37), for example by pivoting about pivot connection 312, to seal theupper end of the liquid collection container 148. Optionally, the valve310 may be manually controlled by a user. Alternatively, operation ofthe valve 310 can be automatic based on a variety of criteria,including, for example, if the treatment unit 130 passes a predeterminedmaximum incline angle, a float switch, a moisture sensor of the like.For example, the treatment unit 130 may include a sensor, such as aninclination sensor 314 that can detect when the treatment unit 130 isinclined past a pre-determined threshold, such as when the cyclone axis154 is within about, e.g., 25 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 15degrees, about 10 degrees and/or less than 10 degrees of horizontal.When the sensor 314 senses that the treatment unit 130 has reached theinclination threshold, it can trigger operation of the valve 310 to sealthe liquid collection container 148. To empty the liquid collectioncontainer 148 the valve 310, a drain port 297, or both can be opened.

It will be appreciated that the valve may also be a one-way valve whichpermits the flow of water into container 148 but inhibits the flow ofwater out of container 148 into container 144 (e.g., a check valve orone-way port). The valve may be open in a normal operating state butclose when a sensor, float switch or the like determines that water isabout to flow out of container 148 into container 144.

Optionally, the treatment unit 130 can be arranged so that when thesurface cleaning apparatus is in the floor cleaning orientation, theseparated liquid collection container 148 is positioned below the solidcollection chamber 144. This may help facilitate the separated liquidpassing from the solid collection chamber 144 to the separated liquidcollection container 148 by gravity flow (e.g. FIGS. 36, 37 and 39).

As exemplified in FIG. 38, a treatment unit 130 includes an optionaldivider 298 and a partition 313 that separates a lower portion of theliquid collection container 148 from the upright section 148 a and thesolid collection chamber 144, and helps provide a portion of the fluidflow path from the solid collection chamber 144 to the separated liquidcollection container 148. The partition 313 can be provided with anysuitable type of flow limiting devices, including a one-way flow device,such as a check valve or one-way port (FIG. 39) and the like to allowliquid to flow from the upright section 148 a to the lower portion 148.As exemplified, partition 2313 includes a powered device, such as a pump318 that can help draw liquid from the upright section 148 a to thelower portion 148. The pump 318 may be configured to run continuouslywhen the apparatus is actuated, may be controlled by a switch, may beconfigured to sense the presence of liquid in the upright section 148 aand turn on accordingly and/or may be programmed to operateintermittently.

As exemplified in FIG. 39, a narrow port or passage may be providedbetween the upright section 148 a and lower portion 148 which,optionally, may be blocked by valve that includes a flap 322 that isbiased toward the closed position. The flap 322 may open under theweight of the liquid accumulating in the upright section 148 a, but maybe urged closed by its biasing force and the hydraulic pressure ofliquid in the lower portion 148 when the treatment unit 130 is inclined.The lower portion of the liquid collection container 148 can be emptiedby opening drain port 297, whereas the upright section 148 a, and solidcollection chamber 144, can be emptied when lid 194 is removed.Optionally, instead of the entire lid 194 being openable, it may beprovided with an openable port.

Alternately, or in addition, the treatment unit 130 may be configured sothat at least a portion of the liquid collection container 148 isprovided in the surface cleaning head 102, or other suitable location,that is further remote from solid collection chamber 144 and cyclonechamber 142. For example, the cyclone chamber 142 and solid collectionchamber 144 may be provided on the upright section 116, and optionallymay be part of a removable cleaning unit 120, while at least a majorityof the liquid collection region, including the liquid collectioncontainer 148 is provided as part of the surface cleaning head 102. Thismay help lower the centre of gravity of the apparatus 100, and may helpreduce the weight that a user carries when holding and maneuvering theupright section 116. Liquid may be conveyed from the solid collectionchamber 144 to the remote liquid collection container 148 using anysuitable liquid flow conduit or passage, and may travel under theinfluence of gravity or be assisted, such as by a pump.

Referring to FIG. 42, a portion of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 isillustrated, including a single stage separator 132 having a cyclonechamber 142 configured to separate liquid and solid debris. The solidcollection chamber 144 is partially bounded by a porous divider 298,allowing liquid to flow form the solid collection chamber 144 into arelatively small upper liquid collection portion 148 a. From the uprightsection 148 a the liquid is pumped, via pump 318, through a liquid flowconduit 380 to the liquid collection container 148 that is provided inthe surface cleaning head 102. This arrangement may also help preventliquid from flowing back from the liquid collection container 148 intothe solid collection chamber 144 when the upright section 116 isreclined because the pump 318 may pose a flow barrier, and because thesurface cleaning head 102 will generally still be at a lower elevationthat the solid collection chamber 144. Optionally, the liquid flowconduit 380 may include one or more suitable couplings 382, to allow thesolid collection chamber 144 and cyclone chamber 142 to be separatedfrom the liquid collection container 148.

Optionally, a moisture sensor, such as sensor 342 (FIG. 42) can beprovided at a suitable location within the treatment unit 130, such aswithin the upper portion 148 a of the liquid collection container and/orwithin the solid collection chamber 144. The sensor 342 can be used todetect when liquid is present in the treatment unit 130, and suitablecontroller may then automatically trigger the pump 318 (in theembodiments of FIGS. 15-16 and/or 42) or open a valve 310 (FIG. 37) oractuate any other suitable flow limiting device to help facilitatetransfer of the liquid to the liquid collection container 148.Optionally, instead of, or in addition to being actuated by the moisturesensor 342, the pump 318 may be actuated when the liquid delivery systemis activated (e.g. when liquid is sprayed via the nozzle 164) as it maybe likely that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 will be used in a wetcleaning mode after liquid has been applied to the surface. In suchembodiments, the pump 318 and liquid delivery system may be linked by asuitable controller. Optionally, the pump 318 may be configured so thatit is always on when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use, andis actuated when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is actuated.

Optionally, the liquid flow conduit 380 may be of any suitable lengthand configuration and optionally may be separable into at least twoportions connected by any suitable coupling, as shown in the embodimentof FIGS. 15 and 16A. In this embodiment, the fluid flow path between thesolid collection chamber 144 and the liquid collection container 148 canbe interrupted if the cleaning unit 120 is detached. The cleaning unit120 may then be used in a dry-only mode, or optionally may be used in awet-cleaning mode with the separated liquid being temporarily collectedin the solid collection chamber 144 until it is emptied and/or until theliquid flow conduit 380 is re-connected to re-establish liquidcommunication with the liquid collection container 148.

Optionally, any suitable valve, such as the check valve 383 (FIGS. 16and 42) may be provided in the fluid flow path between the solidcollection chamber 144 and the liquid collection container 148 (e.g.along the length of flow conduit 380) to help prevent liquid fromflowing back from the liquid collection container 148 and through thefluid flow path.

Optionally, the liquid collection container 148 can be removable fromthe surface cleaning apparatus 100 for emptying, and optionally may beconfigured as a disposable or single-use container. In such embodiments,one liquid collection container 148 containing dirty liquid can bediscarded by a user, and a different, empty liquid collection container148 can be inserted in its place. This may help reduce the chances ofthe dirty liquid spilling when the liquid collection container 148 isemptied.

Optionally, both the upper and lower ends of the treatment unit 130 canbe openable, which may allow liquid to be removed from the bottom, whilesolid debris, retained above divider 298 is emptied via the top. Inanother embodiment, shown in FIG. 41, the treatment unit 130 may includean overflow region 326 connected to the liquid collection container 148,and positioned so that it is below, or at least at a lower elevationthan, the liquid collection container 148 when the treatment unit 130 isinclined. In this arrangement, liquid in the liquid collection container148 may flow down into the overflow region 326 rather than back into thesolid collection chamber 144 or cyclone chamber 142. When the treatmentunit is returned to its upright position, at least some of the liquidmay flow back into the liquid collection container 148.

Liquid Sequestering Member in the Liquid Collection Container

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the treatment unit 130 may includeone or more liquid sequestering members that can be configured to atleast temporarily retain/sequester liquid that is collected in theliquid collection container 148, to help prevent backflow. Such liquidsequestering members may be formed from any suitable material(s), andmay include open cell materials such as sponges and foams and/orabsorbent materials such as polymers, fibrous materials and the like.

Optionally, the liquid sequestering member may be configured to besingle-use members and optionally may generally permanently retain theliquid to which it is exposed. For example, the liquid sequesteringmember may include an absorbent material that absorbs water (e.g., itmay swell when it absorbs water). When the surface cleaning apparatus100 is in use, some or all of the water received in the liquidcollection container 148 may be absorbed by the absorbent material,which may help reduce splashing or sloshing of the liquid and/or mayhelp prevent liquid reentering the separator (e.g., cyclone chamber)from the liquid collection container 148. When the liquid collectioncontainer 148 is emptied, the absorbent material, containing theabsorbed liquid, may be discarded and optionally replaced with freshabsorbent material. In these embodiments, the liquid sequestering membermay also function as a baffle (similar in function to baffles 300) tohelp reduce the splashing and/or sloshing of liquid within the liquidcollection container 148. For example, in some embodiments the liquidsequestering member may absorb some of the separated liquid thataccumulates within the liquid collection container 148, while some ofthe liquid can remain unabsorbed (for example if the liquid sequesteringmember becomes saturated) and may flow within the liquid collectioncontainer 148 as it moves during use. The presence of the liquidsequestering member may act as at least a partial barrier to the flow ofsuch liquid, in a manner analogous to the other examples of flowcontrolling baffles 300 described herein.

Alternatively, the liquid sequestering member may be re-usable (e.g. anopen cell material), such that it can absorb a first quantity of liquidand then be drained, dried or otherwise regenerated such that it canabsorb a second quantity of liquid.

Optionally, the liquid sequestering member may be generally rigid, andmay retain a generally consistent shape during the different phases ofits use. Alternatively, the liquid sequestering member may bedeformable. This may help with insertion and removal of the liquidsequestering member within the liquid collection container 148. This mayalso help extract the liquid that has been retained within the liquidsequestering member. For example, a liquid sequestering member that isconfigured as a generally deformable open cell foam member may bedeformed, e.g. squeezed, to help extract the liquid that has beenabsorbed by the open cell foam.

Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include an actuatorto engage the liquid sequestering member and help dislodge and/orextract liquid that has been captured by the liquid sequestering member.For example, if the liquid sequestering member is deformable, thesurface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a compression member that canbe used to squeeze/compress the liquid sequestering member from anuncompressed state (in which liquid is retained) to a compressed state(whereby liquid is released from the liquid sequestering member). Thecompression member may be any suitable structure, including, for examplea plate, plunger, piston, grill, screen and the like.

Referring to FIG. 40, this embodiment of the treatment unit 130 has asequestering member that includes a porous, sponge 316 that is made froman open cell foam and is positioned inside the liquid collectioncontainer 148. The sponge 316 can absorb and at least temporarily retainliquid, and help prevent liquid from flowing freely out of the liquidcollection container 148. To empty the liquid collection container 148,the container can be inverted and port 297 opened for a sufficientperiod of time for the liquid to eventually trickle out of the sponge316. Alternatively, or in addition, the sponge 316 can deformable andcan be squeezed to help dislodge the liquid. Optionally, the sponge 316can be removed from the liquid collection container 148 and wrung outfor re-use, or optionally replaced with a new sponge 316.

As exemplified in FIG. 40, the treatment unit 130 includes an optionalcompression member that can be used to compress the sponge 316 while itis within the liquid collection container 148. This may help a usersqueeze the sponge 316 to extract liquid, without having to directlytouch the sponge 316 or remove it from the liquid collection container148. In this embodiment, the compression member includes a plunger 149connected to a drive rod 151. By translating the drive rod 151, forexample using a suitable motor or by manual engagement by a user, theplunger 149 can be moved toward the sponge 316 (to the right asillustrated in FIG. 40) to compress/deform the sponge 316 to squeeze outthe liquid, and then moved away from the sponge 316 (to the left asillustrated) to decompress the sponge 316 and allow it to re-expand toabsorb additional liquid.

Optionally, the help drain away liquid that has been squeezed out of thesponge 316, the liquid collection container 148 can include an optionalliquid outlet that is located, e.g., at a lower elevation than thesponge 316 when the liquid collection container 148 is in an emptyingconfiguration/orientation. In this arrangement, liquid that is squeezedout of the sponge 316 can fall downwardly under the influence ofgravity, and then drain from the liquid collection container 148 via theliquid outlet. This may help prevent re-absorption of the liquid whenthe sponge expands after compression is terminated. In this embodiment,a drain port 297 is provided at the lower end of the liquid collectioncontainer 148 and can be selectively opened by the user (automaticallyand/or manually) to allow the liquid to drain. In this embodiment, whenthe liquid outlet is opened and the sponge 316 is compressed, liquidtrapped in the sponge 316 can exit the separated liquid container 148through the liquid outlet (port 297) while the sponge 316 remains in theseparated liquid container 148. Port 297 may be opened automaticallywhen the compression member is actuated, e.g., the port may be openedconcurrently or sequentially with the actuation of the compressionmember.

While the drain port 297 shown as being positioned below, and underlyingthe sponge 316 in FIG. 40, in other embodiments the treatment unit 130illustrated in this example may be intended to be oriented, e.g.,horizontally when being emptied (i.e. rotated clockwise 90 degrees fromthe orientation shown). In such embodiments, the drain port 297 may beprovided on the right sidewall of the liquid collection container 148(as illustrated), such that the drain port 297 underlies the plunger 149and sponge 316 when the treatment unit 130 is in the emptying position,but does not underlie the plunger 149 and sponge 316 when the treatmentunit 130 is in the use position.

Alternatively, the treatment unit 130 may be intended to be invertedabout 180 degrees when being emptied, for example by opening the lid192. In such embodiments, the sponge 316 may be positioned above theopen end of the solid collection chamber 144 and liquid collectioncontainer 148, and liquid that is squeezed from the sponge 316 may exitvia the same opening that is used to drain the non-sequestered liquidand the dry dirt/debris (e.g. by flow through screen 298 and then outthe open end of the solid collection chamber 144). This may eliminatethe need for the separate drain port 297.

Optionally, the sponge 316 can be loosely received within the liquidcollection container 148 such that it may be movable within the liquidcollection container 148 while the treatment unit 130 is in use.Alternatively, the sponge 316, or any other suitable liquid sequesteringmember, may be mounted within the liquid collection container 148 (suchas by using a frame, clips, fasteners and the like) so that it is heldin a generally fixed position while the treatment unit 130 is in use.Alternately, it may be held in position by a friction fit.

Optionally, the sponge 316 can be configured such that it will remain inplace within the liquid collection container 148 when the liquidcollection container 148 is opened (such as by opening lid 192). Thismay allow a user to open the lid 192 without having to extract thesponge 316 from the liquid collection container 148. This may be helpfulif, for example, a user wishes to open the lid 192 to inspect theinterior of the treatment unit 130 but does not wish to touch the sponge316 or empty the liquid. Alternatively, the sponge 316 may configured sothat it is removed automatically when the lid 192 is opened. Forexample, the sponge 316 may be connected to, or mounted to an undersideof the lid 192, such that when the lid 192 is opened the sponge 316moves with it and is at least partially (and optionally entirely)removed from the liquid collection container 148. This may helpfacilitate access to the sponge 316, and may allow a user to remove thesponge 316 from the liquid collection container 148 by manipulating thelid 192 and without having to directly touch the sponge 316.

Flexible and/or Inflatable Liquid Collection Container

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, a liquid reservoir, such as theliquid collection container 148, may be at least partially, andoptionally entirely, formed from a generally flexible, pliable and/orexpandable material. In some examples, the liquid collection container148 may be configured as an inflatable, bladder like container that canhave a relatively small volume/size when empty, and can beinflated/expand as it is filled with separated liquid. This may helpreduce the overall size of the liquid collection container 148 whenempty. Optionally, such a liquid collection container 148 may also bedetachable, preferably as a sealed unit, and may be disposable (e.g.single use) without requiring the user to open or empty the separateliquid from the separated liquid container 148.

Referring to FIG. 78, one example of a separator 130 in which liquidthat is separated by the cyclone chamber 142 passes through the divider298 at the lower end of the solid collection chamber 144 and is pumped,via pump 318 and liquid flow conduits 380, into a liquid collectioncontainer 148 that is configured as an inflatable bladder. As moreseparated liquid is pumped into the bladder, it can expand. Optionally,the bladder may be detachable for disposal, or may include an optionaldrain port 297 for emptying.

In this example, opening the common upper wall 192 can providesimultaneous access to the interior of the cyclone chamber 142, thesolid collection chamber 144 and the separate liquid container 148 foremptying/removal as desired.

Optionally, at least a portion of an inflatable liquid collectioncontainer 148 may be nested within one or more liquid reservoir tanks200 or a cleaning solution tank. This may help reduce the overall sizeof the surface cleaning apparatus 100. As the liquid collectioncontainer 148 is nested within another liquid tank and is anexpandable-type container, it will occupy relatively little volume whenempty, and expand to occupy more volume within the reservoir tank 200 asmore separated liquid is collected. As the surface cleaning apparatus100 is in use, clean liquid may be dispensed from the reservoir tank200, thereby reducing the volume of liquid retained in reservoir tank200. As liquid is collected, the expandable liquid collection container148 may expand into the interior of the reservoir tank 200, and mayoccupy some of the space that was previously occupied by clean liquid.This may allow the same volume/region within the apparatus 100 to beused for storing both clean liquid and dirty liquid, at different times.This may help reduce the overall size of the surface cleaning apparatus100.

Referring to FIGS. 79 and 80, in this example, the liquid collectioncontainer 148 is provided as an inflatable bladder that is entirelycontained within the interior volume of a clean liquid reservoir tank200 in the surface cleaning head. Prior to using the apparatus 100, thereservoir tank 200 may be substantially full of clean liquid (e.g.,clean water or a cleaning solution), and the liquid collection chamber148 is substantially empty and small (FIG. 79). When the apparatus 100is in use, liquid can be dispensed from the reservoir tank 200 onto thefloor (via nozzle 164) and then sucked up into dirty fluid inlet 104 andprocessed by the treatment unit 130. In the treatment unit 130, theseparated liquid may pass through the solid collection chamber 144 andcan be transported into the liquid collection container 148 via, e.g.,pump 318 or gravity flow. During such usage the amount of clean liquidin the reservoir tank 200 will be reduced, and the liquid collectioncontainer 148 can expand into the interior of the evacuated interior ofthe reservoir tank 200 as it is filled. Under some operating conditions,the liquid recovery rate of the apparatus (e.g. the volume of liquidsucked up and separated as compared to the volume of liquid dispensed)may be less than 100%, which may help provide ample room within thereservoir tank 200 to accommodate the expansion of the liquid collectionchamber 148.

Optionally, the expandable/inflatable liquid collection containers 148may be formed from a resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene andthe like, such that they may tend to resist expansion, and may tend toautomatically shrink back to their deflated configuration when empty.

Liquid Delivery System, Optionally with an Externally Positioned PumpingMember

In any aspect disclosed herein, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 mayalso include a liquid delivery system for distributing water, a hardfloor cleaning solution, a carpet cleaning solution and the like ontothe surface to be cleaned. This liquid can then be extracted from thesurface using the apparatus 100. Any such onboard liquid delivery systemmay be of any suitable configuration, and may include, for example, andsuitable liquid reservoir(s), actuators such as pump(s), liquidconduits, mixing chamber(s), spray and application nozzle(s) and thelike. Each component of the liquid delivery system may be at anylocation on apparatus 100. Various embodiments are disclosed herein.

The liquid delivery system may be configured to provide any suitablecleaning solution, including one or more of water, bleach, a hard floorcleaning solution, a carpet cleaning solution.

In the exemplified embodiment of FIG. 7, the liquid delivery systemincludes a single onboard liquid reservoir apparatus 162 that isprovided on the upright section 116. The liquid reservoir apparatus 162is fluidly connected to a delivery nozzle 164 via one or more liquidconduits (not shown), and liquid can be pumped and/or flow due togravity from the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 to the delivery nozzle164 by any suitable pump (not shown).

In this example, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 is provided on therear side of the cleaning unit 120, and at a higher elevation than thefirst separator 132. In this configuration, the liquid reservoirapparatus 162 will be positioned generally below the suction motor 124and second separator 134 when the upright section 116 is reclined intothe surface cleaning position (such as in FIG. 2).

The liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may also include any suitable pump(or optionally more than one pump) that can help convey the liquid fromthe liquid reservoir apparatus 162 to the delivery nozzle(s) 164. Thepump may be any suitable type of pump, including, for example, a rotarylobe pump, a progressive cavity pump, a piston pump, a rotary gear pump,a diaphragm pump, a screw pump, a positive displacement pump (such as aperistaltic pump) and the like. The pump may be provided close to a tankof liquid reservoir apparatus 162, inside the tank, close to thedelivery nozzle 164 or at any suitable location along the delivery lineextending therebetween. The pump may optionally be attached to the sameportion of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 as the tank (i.e., both inthe cleaning unit 120, both in the surface cleaning head 102, etc.), oralternatively the tank and pump may be provided at different locationson the apparatus 100 (e.g., the tank may be in the cleaning unit 120,while the pump is provided in the surface cleaning head 102). Spacingthe pump away from the tank may help reduce the overall size of theapparatus 100, and may help with the overall weight distribution of theapparatus 100. Optionally, the pump may be configured such that the pumpcomponents are exposed to the liquid being pumped. For example, theliquid may come into direct contact with a rotating pump impeller.

Alternatively, the pump may be configured so that it remains externalthe liquid flow, and the pump components do not come into direct contactwith the liquid being pumped. Configuring the pump in this manner mayhelp reduce contamination/fouling of the pump components. This may alsohelp prevent the likelihood of cross-contamination between liquids, if asingle pump is used, sequentially, to pump two or more differentliquids. This may be preferable if the apparatus 100 can be configuredto use different types of cleaning chemicals/solutions based on thenature of the surface to be cleaned. Some surfaces may be cleaned usingan acidic cleaning solution, while others may be cleaned with, forexample, a basic cleaning liquid. Exposing the internal components ofthe pump 204 to the liquid being pumped may lead to some degree ofcross-contamination and/or chemical reaction if a basic liquid were tobe introduced into a pump cavity containing traces of an acidicliquid—or vice versa. The use of a pump in which the pump components arenot directly exposed to the liquid being pumped may help prevent suchcross-contamination.

FIG. 49 exemplifies the use of a pump which externally drive a fluid toflow between a reservoir tank and a delivery nozzle 164 As exemplified,reservoir tank 200 is adapted to hold any suitable liquid, such aswater, a ready-to-use cleaning solution and the like. A liquid deliveryline 202 extends between the reservoir tank 200 and any suitable liquidspray nozzle, such as delivery nozzle 164. While FIG. 49 shows a singlenozzle, a plurality of the delivery nozzles 164 may be used and eachdelivery nozzle 164 may be any type know in the art and may beconfigured to distribute the liquid on the surface as a mist, stream,trickle/drip and in any other suitable manner.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 49, the pump 204 is arranged as aperistaltic pump having a motor 206 that drives a rotor 208 having oneor more rollers 210 attached thereto. As exemplified, a portion of theliquid delivery line 202, pumping portion 216, is configured to passbetween the rollers 210 and an associated pump housing 212, where it canbe squeezed against the housing 212 by the rotating rollers 210. In thisconfiguration, the liquid within the delivery line 202 does not comeinto direct physical contact with the pump 204, and specifically itsrollers 201 and housing 212. Any peristaltic pump may be utilized.

Optionally, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may include a heater tohelp heat the liquid before it is applied to the surface to be cleaned.The heater may be utilized to heat the liquid as it is held in thereservoir tank 200, and/or a heater may apply heat to the liquiddelivery lines 202 that carry the liquid from the reservoir tank 200 todelivery nozzle 164. In the embodiment of FIG. 49, the liquid reservoirapparatus 162 includes an electrical resistance heater 214 that may becontrolled by any suitable controller, may always be on when theapparatus 100 is powered and/or may be manually controllable by a userto adjust the liquid temperature.

Liquid Delivery System that can Apply Two Different Cleaning Solutions

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the liquid delivery system may beconfigured to be operable to alternately deliver two different liquids,such as a carpet cleaning solution and a hard floor cleaning solutionand may include any suitable actuator so that the cleaning solutiondelivery system can be switched between a hard floor cleaning actuationmode in which the cleaning solution delivery system delivers the hardfloor cleaning solution to at least one delivery nozzle 164, and in acarpet cleaning actuation mode, in which the cleaning solution deliverysystem delivers the carpet cleaning solution to the at least onedelivery nozzle 164. It will be appreciated that each solution may bedelivered to the same delivery nozzle(s) or that one liquid may besupplied to one delivery nozzle(s) and another solution may be deliveredto another nozzle(s).

Optionally, the actuator used to change the mode of the liquid deliverysystem may be manually activated by a user, and may include a button,trigger, switch, lever and the like. Alternatively, the actuator may beautomatically controlled by a suitable controller (microcontroller, PLCor the like) and may include a detector that is able to determine thetype of surface that is being cleaned in order to select and apply theappropriate cleaning solution, e.g., an optical sensor.

Referring to FIG. 1, one example of an actuator that can be used tochange the mode of the liquid delivery system is a three-position switch448 that can be provided on the handle 386 as shown, or in any othersuitable location (such as on the cleaning unit 120 as shown in FIG. 7and on the surface cleaning head 102 as shown in FIG. 9). The switch 448in this example may be movable between an “OFF” position in which noliquid is delivered to the surface, a “HARD FLOOR” position, in whichthe liquid deliver system delivers a hard floor cleaning solution and a“CARPET” position, in which the liquid deliver system delivers a carpetcleaning solution. This mode selection may be achieved by mechanicallinkage, or by connecting the switch 448 to any suitable on boardcontroller that can also be configured to control aspects of the liquiddelivery system in response to inputs received from the switch 448. Theswitch 448 may be connected to two or more pumps, valves or the like todirectly control the application of the different cleaning solutions (asshown in FIG. 51A), and/or may be connected to any suitable controllerthat can receive inputs from the switch 448 and control the liquiddelivery system accordingly. FIG. 55A shows own example in which theswitch 448 is connected to a liquid delivery controller 450, which maybe a standalone controller as illustrated or may be integrated withanother controller in the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For example, asingle pump may be used to draw liquid from 2 or more tanks 200 andvalves may be used to selectively fluidically connect the pump to a tankcontaining the desired liquid to be applied.

Optionally, instead of a switch 448, the actuator for the liquiddelivery system may include a detector that can determine the type ofsurface that is being cleaned (i.e. distinguish between hard floorsurfaces and carpets) and provide output signals to the liquid deliverycontroller 450. This may allow the liquid delivery system toautomatically select an appropriate cleaning solution to deliver basedon the type of floor being cleaned, without requiring manual user input.In the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16, the surface cleaning head 102includes a downward facing optical sensor 452 that can determine, e.g.,using light reflection, the type of surface underlying the surfacecleaning head 102. The liquid delivery controller 450 is connected tothe sensor 452 and, based on the outputs from the sensor 452, candetermine if the surface being cleaned is a hard floor or a carpet.Based on this determination, liquid delivery controller 450 can controlthe liquid delivery system and

Optionally, the switch 448 may also control the operation of otherportions of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, including the suctionmotor, rotating cleaning brushes and the like. For example, the switch448 may linked to a controller that also controls the suction motor 124and rotating brushes 172 and 174.

As exemplified in FIGS. 50, 51A and 51B, other embodiments of a liquidreservoir apparatus 162, that can be used with any of the embodiments ofthe surface cleaning apparatus 100 described herein, the delivery systemmay utilize two separate reservoir tanks 200 a and 200 b, each connectedto a respective liquid delivery lines 202 a and 202 b which engagerespective peristatic pumps 204 a and 204 b. In the embodiment of FIG.50, the rotors 208 a and 208 b are connected to and driven by a commonmotor 206. This can help reduce the overall size of the surface cleaningapparatus 100. Suitable gearing and/or transmission hardware (e.g., agear box) may be used to allow each rotor 208 a and 208 b to be rotatedindependently of each other, optionally at different speeds, even whileconnected to a common motor 206. This may also help reduce thecomplexity and size of the liquid reservoir apparatus 162. In theembodiments of FIGS. 51A and 51B, each rotor 208 is driven by arespective motor 206. This may help facilitate independent operation ofeach pump 204 a and 204 b.

Optionally, the reservoir tank 200 a, and its associated delivery line202 a may be used to hold carpet cleaning solution, while reservoir tank200 b, and its associated delivery line 202 b may be used hold hardfloor cleaning solution. It will be appreciated that tanks 200 a, 200 bmay contain any liquids such a water, a hard floor cleaning solution, acarpet cleaning solution or an odor eliminating composition (e.g.,Fabreeze™).

Optionally, one or more of the tanks 200 a and 200 b can be configuredto be removable, from the rest of the apparatus 100, for filling,cleaning, replacement, inspection and the like. The tanks may beconcurrently removable or individually removable. In the embodiment ofFIG. 50, the tank 200 a need not be removable while tank 200 b may beconfigured as a removable tank that can be accessed by opening a cover218. The cover 218 may be provided by another portion of the surfacecleaning apparatus 100, such as a portion of the surface cleaning head102, upright section 116, cleaning unit 120 and the like. The tank 200 bmay also include a detachable coupling 220 connecting it to itsassociated delivery line 202 b.

It will be appreciated that tank(s) 200 may be refillable in situ andtherefor need not be replaced. Alternately, tank(s) 200 may bedisposable. In such an embodiment, a user may purchase a new tank 200and insert the new tank into the housing or enclosure for the tank. Uponinsertion, a seal may be broken or pierced to connect the interior ofthe tank with the delivery system (e.g., like a Tetra Pak™). It will beappreciated that tank 200 need not be a hard walled tank but may be madeof a flexible material.

Optionally, tanks 200 a and 200 b may be configured to contain anddispense the same liquid. For example, both tanks 200 a and 200 b mayhold water, the same pre-mixed cleaning solution and the like. Providingtwo tanks 200 a and 200 b could allow for increased liquid capacity andmay allow one tank to hold hot water (tank 200 a with heater 214) whilethe other tank 200 b holds cold water, for example. Alternatively, theliquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be configured to hold different typesof liquid.

For example, the tank 200 a may be configured to hold a hard floorcleaning solution and the tank 200 b may be configured to hold a carpetcleaning solution. By operating pump 204 a, hard floor cleaning solutionmay be provided to the nozzle 164 and sprayed on a surface. By operatingpump 204 b (and not pump 204 a), carpet cleaning solution may beprovided to the nozzle 164 and sprayed on a surface.

Alternatively, tank 200 a may be configured to hold water, while tank200 b contains a pre-mixed cleaning solution. By triggering theassociated pumps 204 a and 204 b, a user could choose to apply water,cleaning solution or a combination of both to the surface being cleaned.The user may control the supply of each liquid independently, (e.g., byusing different actuators or by using a multi-position switch) which mayallow a user to first apply a cleaning solution from tank 200 b, byoperating only pump 204 b, to the surface, operate the surface cleaningapparatus 100 in a cleaning mode and then apply water from tank 200 a tothe surface to perform a rinsing step.

Optionally, pumps 204 a and 204 b can be driven by the motor 206 at thesame rate. Alternatively, any suitable gearing mechanism and/ortransmission may be utilized between the motor 206 and the rotors 208 aand 208 b, such that the rotors 208 a and 208 b can be driven atdifferent rates by the common motor 206. In some embodiments, thegearing ratios and/or transmission may be adjustable, such that therotational speed of the rotors 208 a and 208 b can be independentlyadjusted while the apparatus 100 is in use. This may help facilitateindependent control of the rate at which the liquids held in the tanks200 a and 200 b are dispensed. This is one manner in which the mixing ofthe liquids may be manipulated.

Optionally, instead or varying the motor 206 or pump 204 a and 204 boperation, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may include one or moreadditional flow regulating devices to help control the flow of a liquidfrom one or more of the tanks 200 a, 200 b, etc. For example, the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 may include a valve, orifice plate and the likethat can be used to modify the flow of liquid through the delivery lines202 a, 202 b, etc. Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 50, the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 includes a variable flow control valve 224 thatis provided in the delivery line 202 b. This valve 224 can be actuated,by a user, controller and the like, to help regulate the flow of liquidout of tank 200 b. A similar valve could be provided in the deliveryline 202 a, or any other suitable location. The valve 224 may beactuated be a solenoid, and may be biased (such as by a spring) towardone of its open and closed positions. The valve 224 may be atwo-position, on/off valve, or may be a variable valve that can beoperated to allow a plurality of different liquid flow rates. Theoperation of the valve 224 may be linked to the operation of the motor206 (or motor 206 a, 206 b, etc. in other embodiments), or may beindependently operated.

Optionally, instead of or in addition to using mechanical flow limitingdevices, the deliver lines 202 a, 202 b, etc. may be configured to havedifferent sizes and/or interior diameters, such that the flow ratethrough the lines will differ when subjected to similar operatingpressures, pumps and the like. For example, a supply line carrying watermay have a larger diameter than a supply line carrying cleaning solutionconcentrate or the like. By increasing the diameter of a delivery line202, a higher flow rate may be achieved at the same rate of rotation ofthe pump.

Optionally, the delivery lines 202 a and 202 b connected to each tank200 a and 200 b may extend in parallel substantially all the way to thedelivery nozzle 164. Alternatively, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162may be configured to include at least one intermediary mixing apparatus,such as a mixing nozzle or mixing chamber 222 that is located downstreamfrom the tanks 200 a and 200 b and upstream from the delivery nozzle164, or may in fact be the delivery nozzle 164. For example, the mixingchamber 222 may be integrally formed with the nozzle 164 (as shown inthe embodiment of FIG. 52). Using a mixing chamber 222 may helpfacilitate mixing of the liquids being drawn from tank 200 a and tank200 b before the combination of liquids is sprayed onto the surface tobe cleaned. Providing mixing of this nature may help facilitateon-demand mixing of cleaning solutions and/or other liquids and/or mayallow the concentration of a cleaning solution to be modified on demandby a user, or suitable controller provided on the surface cleaningapparatus 100.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 50 the liquid reservoir apparatus162 of FIG. 50 may be configured to hold water in tank 200 a, and apre-mixed cleaning solution in tank 200 b. For the purposes of thisdescription, a pre-mixed cleaning solution can be understood to be acleaning solution that is stored in tank 200 b in a concentration inwhich it is intended to be applied to the floor. That is, it is suitablefor spraying on the floor in a substantially “as is” condition, andwithout requiring substantial mixing or adjusting from the surfacecleaning apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the cleaning solution fromtank 200 b can be applied to the floor independently from the supply ofwater in tank 200 a. However, if the cleaning solution is considered tobe too strong for a given application (such as a delicate floorcovering, a secondary cleaning pass, etc.) it may be diluted bysimultaneously dispensing water from the tank 200 a, and mixing thisliquids in the mixing chamber 222 before spraying the diluted cleaningsolution via the delivery nozzle 164.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 51A, the liquid deliverylines 202 a and 202 b may be almost entirely separate from each other,and may each extend from their respective tanks 200 a and 200 b to thenozzle 164. If the tanks 200 a and 200 b are removable, substantiallyall of their respective fluid delivery lines 202 a and 202 b could beremovable with them, and replacement tanks 200 and lines 202 could beprovided, and reconnected to the nozzle 164. In yet anotherconfiguration, the nozzle 164 may also be removable with the used fluidsupply lines 202 a and/or 202 b, and a new nozzle may be provided withthe new tanks and supply lines.

In other embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 51B, the liquid deliverylines 202 a and 202 b may remain separate from each other along theirentire length, and may each terminate in a respective nozzle 164 a and164 b. This may provide separate liquid flow paths from tank 202 a tonozzle 164 a, and from tank 202 b to nozzle 164 b. This configurationmay eliminate cross-contamination between different cleaning solutions,as the contents of tank 202 a need not mix with the contents of tank 202b (for example) at any point within the liquid delivery system. Nozzles164 a and 164 b may be physically connected as part of a common nozzleassembly, or alternatively may be spaced apart from each other. Thenozzles 164 a and 164 b may be located on the same portion of thesurface cleaning apparatus 100 (such as both on the surface cleaninghead 102), or alternatively may be provided in different locations. Forexample, one nozzle 164 a may be provided on the surface cleaning head102, while nozzle 164 b is provided on the upright section 116, or viceversa.

In a particular embodiment, the nozzle is removable with line 202.Accordingly, when a line or a tank is replaced, an entire new deliveryline and nozzle may be installed.

Liquid Delivery System with Water Reservoir and One or More CleaningSolution Concentrates

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, instead of providing separate tanks200 for storing different types of pre-mixed cleaning solutions (hardfloor vs carpet, etc.), the liquid delivery system may include a waterreservoir tank and one or more separate tanks holding cleaning solutionconcentrates (i.e. a cleaning solution in a form that is less suitablefor direct application to a surface and that would typically be dilutedwith water before application). The system can then mix water from thewater reservoir tank with an appropriate amount of a cleaning solutionconcentrate to provide the desired cleaning solution. In thisarrangement, a common water reservoir source may be mixed with two ormore different cleaning solution concentrates. Each cleaning solutionconcentrate material may be stored in suitable tank 200. Eachconcentrate tank 200 may be relatively smaller than a tank that would beused to hold the quantity of pre-mixed cleaning solutions that wouldprovide the same amount of cleaning solution application. This may helpeliminate the need to a provide full size tanks 200 for each time ofpre-mixed cleaning solution, which may help reduce the overall size andweight of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.

For example, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 of FIG. 50 may beconfigured to hold water in tank 200 a, and a cleaning solutionconcentrate in tank 200 b. As compared to a pre-mixed cleaning solution,the concentrate solution is a concentrated form of the cleaningingredients that is not intended, and possibly not suitable, for directapplication to the floor or surface to be cleaned “as is”. Instead, theconcentrate solution is intended to be diluted with water, or othersuitable liquid, prior to application. In the example above, suchdilution could have been performed prior to adding the liquid to tank200 b, which would provide tank 200 b with the pre-mixed cleaningsolution discussed. In contrast, in another embodiment the concentratesolution may be stored directly in tank 200 b. This may allow tank 200 bto be smaller than tank 200 a, and smaller than it would otherwise needto be in order to carry an equivalent amount of pre-mixed cleaningsolution.

In this example, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be operated in awater only actuation mode to dispense water from tank 200 a (forpre-soaking, rinsing, etc.) without drawing from tank 200 b. Whencleaning solution is desired, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may beoperated in a second actuation mode in which it dispenses a relativelysmall (a metered) amount of the concentrate solution from tank 200 b,simultaneously with a prescribed amount of water from tank 200 a. Thecleaning solution can then be mixed on-demand in mixing chamber 222prior to spraying the solution on the floor. The ratio of water toconcentrate solution may be determined by the characteristics of a givenconcentrate solution, but may be about 2:1 to 10:1 or 20:1 or more, butmay be more or less in some embodiments.

In addition to mixing to a pre-set ratio, the amount of water dispensedto be mixed with the concentrate solution may be modified on the fly bya user or apparatus controller. Supply rate of the water (or otherliquid) may be altered by providing different sized supply lines,changing the operating speed of one or both pump 204 a, b (or thelike—optionally manually or automatically based on apparatus operatingconditions), using a valve or other such flow controlling mechanisms. Byvarying one or more of, e.g., the diameter of the delivery lines 202 andthe speed of pump 204 a,b, a desired mixing ratio may be obtained. Thepump actuator may have a control to control the rate of rotation of oneor both pumps 204 a,b to obtain a desired missing ratio.

For example, the amount of water drawn from tank 200 a could be reducedby operating the pump 204 a at a slower rate if a stronger cleaningsolution is desired (for a particularly soiled floor, etc.), and couldbe increased, by operating the pump 204 a at a faster rate, if arelatively weaker cleaning solution is required (for a sensitive floor,etc.). This may allow a given concentrate solution to be used to providea variety of different strength cleaning solutions, and be used for avariety of different cleaning jobs without requiring dedicatedquantities of different strength cleaning solutions to be pre-loaded andcarrier on the surface cleaning apparatus 100. Other embodiments of theliquid reservoir apparatus 162 described herein may also be operated inthis manner.

Mixing the cleaning solution on-demand, that is just before it is to beapplied to the floor, may also be advantageous if the cleaning solutionincludes one or more active ingredients or compounds that have arelatively short lifespan, and/or may tend to degrade or become lesseffective when stored for prolonged periods.

For example, some ingredients in a given concentrate may be configuredto be activated when exposed to water, air or the like, but may remainrelatively stable when in concentrate formulation (optionally in amodified atmosphere tank to help prolong shelf life). It may bedesirable to mix such ingredients with water immediately prior tospraying the solution on the floor to help maximize the effect of theactivated ingredients.

Optionally, instead of water, a cleaning solution may be provided intwo-part format such that the solution becomes active when the parts aremixed. One part of the solution could be stored in tank 200 a and theother component in 200 b, with the components only being mixedimmediately prior to application to the floor. For example, the solutioncomponents may combine to cause a time-limited chemical reaction(heating, cooling, bubbling, oxidizing and the like) that it isbeneficial to occur on the floor, rather than in a holding tank.

Providing concentrate solution, instead of pre-mixed cleaning solution,may also reduce the volume of the cleaning solution that needs to bestored and carried in the liquid reservoir apparatus 162, which may helpreduce the overall size and weight of the apparatus 100.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 51A, each pump 204 a and204 b may be provided with a separate motor 206 a and 206 b, rather thanbeing driven by a common motor 206 as shown in FIG. 50. This may helpfacilitate independent control of the pumps 204 a and 204 b by directlycontrolling the speed, direction, etc. of the motors 206 a and 206 b,and may eliminate the need for additional gearing apparatus and/ortransmissions in some embodiments.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 51A, one or more layersof thermal insulation 226 may be provided around one or both of thetanks 200 a and 200 b, to help keep each tank at a desired storagetemperature.

Optionally, if the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 is configured toutilize concentrate solution, as opposed to pre-mixed cleaningsolutions, it may not be necessary in all embodiments for the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 to be configured to allow the concentratesolution (i.e. the contents of tank 200 b) to be directly sprayed ontothe surface without mixing with the water or other liquid in tank 200 a.In such configurations, the delivery line 202 b from tank 200 b maymerge with the delivery line 202 a upstream from the pump(s) 204, andmay not extend separately to the delivery nozzle 164.

Referring to FIGS. 52 and 53, another example of a liquid reservoirapparatus 162 is configured having a water tank 200 a and removable tank200 b that contains a concentrate solution. In this example, the tank200 b is configured as a detachable cartridge that preferably comespre-filled with a given concentrate solution, but alternatively may befillable and/or re-fillable by a user.

The pre-filled cartridge may be of any suitable construction, and maybe, for example, a rigid plastic container, a Tetra Pak™ type container,a flexible bag or bladder like container that is deformable and thelike. If the cartridge is not intended to be self-supporting and/orvisible when the apparatus 100 is in use, the liquid reservoir apparatus162 may be provided with a suitable housing and/or compartment toreceive and support the cartridge in a surface cleaning position (asshown in FIG. 52). In this example, the cartridge 200 b is a sealedplastic container, with a fitting 228 (FIG. 53) that can be joined to acomplimentary fitting on the liquid reservoir apparatus 162. Preferable,the fitting 228 is configured so that it will not leak when detachedfrom fitting 230, but any suitable fitting can be used.

This embodiment also includes a flow control valve 224 that isillustrated as being non-removable, but could be integrated with andremovable with the cartridge in some embodiments. Providing a fixed flowcontrol valve 224 may be advantageous as it may allow the valve 224 tobe used with multiple cartridges.

When this liquid reservoir apparatus 162 is in use, water can be drawnfrom tank 200 a as a pre-determined amount of the solution concentrateis drawn from the cartridge 200 b. The flows can mix in mixing chamber222 (which is shown as a chamber, but may simply be the interior of oneof the delivery lines 202), and then pump to the delivery nozzle 164.

Optionally, one or more replacement and/or substitute cartridges can beprovided for use with the liquid reservoir apparatus 162, as shown usingdashed lines in FIG. 53. For example, a second cartridge 200 bcontaining the same concentrate solution may be provided to replace thefirst cartridge 200 b when it is empty. In another example, a secondcartridge 200 b may contain a different concentrate solution. If a userwishes to use a different cleaning solution, the user may remove theinitial cartridge 200 b (whether empty or not) and replace it with thesecond cartridge 200 b containing different chemicals. This may allow auser to change cleaning solutions on demand and/or on the fly, whileutilizing a common water supply in tank 200 a to form each differentcleaning solution. The cartridges 200 b may be exchanged withoutrequiring access to tank 200 a, without pouring out the unused contentsof tank 200 a and/or without having to refill tank 200 a with areplacement liquid.

Optionally, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be configured toinclude more than two separate tanks, and in some embodiments may beconfigured to include one common water tank, along with two or morecartridges of different concentrate solutions. This may help facilitatethe on-demand mixing of two or more different types of cleaningsolutions, using a common on-board water source.

Referring to FIG. 54A as an example, an embodiment of a liquid reservoirapparatus 162 includes a water tank 200 a, and two cartridges 200 b and200 c containing different concentrate solutions, such as chlorine basedsolutions, potassium hydroxide based solutions, hard floor cleaningsolutions, carpet cleaning solutions and the like. For example, thecartridge 200 b can be a hard floor cleaning concentrate container,containing a hard floor cleaning solution concentrate, and the cartridge200 c can be a carpet cleaning concentrate container, containing acarpet cleaning solution concentrate. This liquid reservoir apparatus162 can then be operated to deliver two or more different types ofcleaning solution by sequentially combining water (optionally at thesame or different rates) with the different cleaning concentratesolutions. This may be manually managed by a user, or controlled by asuitable controller and the like. For example, the concentrate solutionin cartridge 200 b may be suitable for cleaning carpets while theconcentrate solution in cartridge 200 c is better suited for cleaninghard flooring. The liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be configured toautomatically draw from tanks 200 a and 200 b when the surface cleaningapparatus 100 is put into a carpet cleaning mode, and to draw from tanks200 a and 200 b when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is put into ahard floor cleaning mode. The flow control valves 224 may be independentoperated to provide different amounts of the concentrate in tanks 200 band 200 c to be mixed with a given flow rate of water (if necessary), tohelp ensure each cleaning solution is mixed to a desired concentration.Alternately, a user may manually select the concentrate to be used.

Optionally, at least a portion of the delivery lines 202 a, 202 b, 202c, etc. may be configured to be removable from the liquid reservoirapparatus 162 for servicing, replacement maintenance or other suitablereasons. The lines 202 may be configured to be removed independently ofeach other and/or of other components (such as tanks 200 a, 200 b, etc.)or may be configured to be removed in combination with other components.For example, at least a portion of the delivery line 202 correspondingto a given tank or cartridge 200 may be configured to be removed withthe cartridge (e.g., line 202 b may be removed with cartridge 200 b),and a replacement delivery line may be provided with the replacementcartridge. This may help facilitate the switching of cartridgescontaining different chemicals, while helping to reduce the chances ofcross-contamination or other issues that might arise if the differentchemicals were carried through common delivery lines.

Referring to FIGS. 55A and 55B, in the illustrated embodiment the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 is configured to so that the delivery line 202 bis attached to, and removable with, the cartridge 200 b when thecartridge 200 b is to be removed or replaced. Together, the cartridge200 b and its respective delivery line 202 b may be considered acartridge assembly 232 b, and optionally may also include a removableflow control valve 224 and other related hardware. Alternatively, thevalves and other such hardware may remain in place. In this example, theremovable/replaceable portion of the delivery line 202 b extends fromthe cartridge 200 b, and passes through the peristaltic pump 204 and isconnected to the mixing chamber 222 using a detachable coupling 234which is shown attached in FIG. 55A, and detached in FIG. 55B.

Is this embodiment, the delivery line 202 b is formed from a relativelyflexible material, and may be manipulated by the user such that thedelivery line 202 b, and notably pumping portion 216 b, can be removedfrom the pump 204 a when the delivery line 202 b is removed, and thenewly provided delivery line 202 b can be inserted into the pump 204 b.Downstream from the mixing chamber 222, a single delivery line 202 canextend to the delivery nozzle 164. The line 202 and/or delivery nozzle164 may be replaceable for servicing, and optionally may be replaced ifdesired to help prevent unwanted mixing of previous and currentchemicals.

Providing swappable cartridge assemblies 232 b and 232 c of this naturemay help facilitate the changeover between different cleaning chemicalswhile reducing the amount of cleaning or rinsing of the delivery linesthat may be required. This configuration may also allow the entirecartridge assembly 232 b and 232 c to be provided to the user as agenerally closed, or sealed system that does not require a user to openthe cartridge, fill the container or otherwise interact with thechemicals contained in the cartridges 200 b and 200 c, during either theinsertion or removal process. This may be an advantage if some of thecleaning concentrate solutions are hazardous or ought not to becontacted by the user.

While shown with two cartridges 200 b and 200 c, and related assemblies,pumps, delivery lines and the like, other embodiments of the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 may include allow more than two cartridges to beinstalled at any given time.

Optionally, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 can be operated in a lineflush mode, in which only water is dispensed through the system to flushthe lines, mixing chambers (if any) and nozzles 164 and substantiallyremove the traces of a first chemical or cleaning solution from theapparatus, before dispensing a second, different chemical or cleaningsolution through the apparatus. This may help avoid mixing differentchemicals or cleaning solutions together. Such a mode may be used todeliver unmixed water to a surface to be treated.

Optionally, in addition to operating the pumps and control valves asdescribed herein, or as an alternative to such manipulations, thedelivery lines leading from the different tanks 200 a, 200 b, 200 c,etc. may be different sizes, to help facilitate different flow rates ofdifferent liquids in the liquid reservoir apparatus 162.

Liquid Delivery System with Non-Interchangeable Tanks

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, if the liquid delivery systemincludes two or more tanks and/or cartridges that are intended to holddifferent cleaning solutions and/or cleaning solution concentrates, suchas a hard floor cleaning solution cartridge and a carpet cleaningsolution cartridge, the liquid delivery system may be configured to helpensure that each cartridge is connected to the liquid delivery system ina desired, appropriate manner. This may be achieved, e.g., by thecartridges or cartridge assemblies not being physically interchangeableor by the cartridges or cartridge assemblies being coded such thatapparatus 100 will not operate if a cartridge or cartridge assembly isinstalled in the wrong location.

According to this aspect, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may beconfigured so that each removable tank or cartridge assembly has adifferent physical shape, size, connection mechanism and the like, suchthat a cartridge 200 c cannot be unintentionally installed in place ofcartridge 200 a or 200 b (e.g., it is not physically compatible with thehousing, couplings or other features of the delivery lines 202 a or 202b). For example, the liquid delivery system may be configured such thatthe hard floor cleaning solution cartridge has a different physicalconfiguration and/or utilizes connectors or couplings that have adifferent configuration than the carpet cleaning solution cartridge suchthat the hard floor cleaning solution cartridge is physicallyincompatible with the compartment and/or coupling a carpet cleaningsolution cartridge, and vice versa. This may help prevent unintentionalmixing of the contents of the tanks 200 a, 200 b and 200 c, and may helpensure that a cartridge 200 c (containing a given type of cleaningchemical) is in the predetermined location such that upon actuation, theappropriate chemical is drawn through delivery line 202 c.

Optionally, cartridges and/or tanks that are intended to be insertedinto the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be coded, e.g., they may beprovided with some type of identifying indicia, such as a bar code, QRcode, RFID tag and the like. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may beprovided with any suitable type of reader, such that the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 can identify a particular cartridge that isinserted into the liquid reservoir apparatus 162. Based on thisinformation, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be operable toautomatically adjust one or more of the parameters of the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 or other components. For example, the liquidreservoir apparatus 162 may automatically select an appropriate watersupply rate, pump operation rate, and chemical supply rate based on thecontents of a given cartridge, so that the cleaning solution is mixed toan appropriate concentration when dispensed.

Referring to FIGS. 54A and 54B, in this example liquid delivery systemis configured so that the coupling 220 connecting the cartridge 200 b tothe supply line 202 b is physically incompatible with the couplingconnecting cartridge 200 c to the supply line 202 c. In this embodiment,the portion of the coupling 220 on cartridge 200 b has a generallyrectangular recess 454 that is configured to receive a complimentaryrectangular protrusion 456 that is provided on the portion of thecoupling connected to supply line 202 b. In contrast, the portion of thecoupling 220 on cartridge 200 c has a generally conical protrusion 458that is configured to be received in complimentary, conical recess 460that is provided on the portion of the coupling connected to supply line202 c. In this arrangement, the cartridge 200 b cannot be physicallyconnected in to the liquid delivery system in the location intended toreceive cartridge 200 c. This may help prevent the unintentionalswapping of the cartridges 200 b and 200 c. In other examples, thecouplings 220 may include different types of alignment or keyedstructures that are configured to accept one configuration of cartridgebut cannot accept a differently configured cartridge, including, forexample, coupling portions having different shapes (round vs square ortriangular coupling portions), couplings that include pins, bosses orother types of protrusions that are to be registered with and insertedinto only complimentarily located holes on the suitable cartridges,cartridges that have the same coupling design but are rigid and aredifferently shaped so as to only slide into correspondinghousings/compartments provided on the surface cleaning apparatus (i.e. asquare, rigid tank would not be able to be inserted into a compartmentshaped to receive a triangular or cylindrical rigid tank), and the like.

Surface Cleaning Head with Two Rotating Agitators

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, apparatus 100 may include two ormore different types of brushes, each of which is intended for use witha different surface.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 5-9, 57-59, 61 and 67A-68, the surfacecleaning head 102 includes two rotating agitators or members spacedapart from each other. The rotating agitators may be of the same type(for example as shown in FIGS. 58, 59 and 61) or may be of differenttypes (for example as shown in FIGS. 5-9, 57 and 67A-68). In theembodiment of FIG. 57, the surface cleaning head 102 includes a rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 174, that rotates about a rotation axis 173 and arelatively soft, rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 that rotatesabout a rotation axis 175. In the illustrated embodiments, the axes ofrotation 173 and 175 are generally horizontal, laterally extending andsubstantially parallel with each other (if two agitators are present)when the surface cleaning head 102 is positioned on a generallyhorizontal floor. Each rotating agitator 172 or 174 may be driven by asuitable brush motor, or alternatively the rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174 and a rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may be driven bya single brush motor (not shown).

Whether driven with separate brush motors, or using a single brushmotor, the agitators 172 and 174 may optionally be rotated at the samespeed while the surface cleaning head 102 is in use, or alternativelymay be rotated at different speeds. In addition, which of the rotatingagitators 174 and 172 is rotated during a cleaning operation may bebased on the cleaning mode being utilized. For example, the surfacecleaning head can be configured so that when it is in the hard floorcleaning actuation mode, the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 isrotated and the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 is stationary andwhen it is in the carpet cleaning actuation mode, the rotating hardfloor cleaning brush 174 is stationary and the rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174 is rotated. Alternatively, in both the hard floor cleaningactuation mode and the carpet cleaning actuation mode, both the rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 174 and the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174may be rotated.

Optionally, the rotational rates of the rotating carpet cleaning brush172 and the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may be variable, andmay be adjusted independently from each other. The rate of rotation fora given agitator 172 or 174 may be based on a variety of factors,including the type of surface being cleaned and the cleaning mode of thesurface cleaning apparatus. For example, when the surface cleaningapparatus 100 is operated in the hard floor cleaning configuration, therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may be rotated at a first rate ofrotation (that may help prevent damage to a hard floor surface and/orreduce the likelihood of debris being scattered across the hard surfaceby the agitators), and when in the carpet cleaning configuration, therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may be rotated at a second,faster rate of rotation that may help clean the carpet. For example, therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 (and/or optionally rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 174) may be rotated about its rotation axis 175 ata speed that is selected so that the radially outer portions of therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 (i.e. portions of its outersurface) have a tangential speed (i.e. velocity in the tangentialdirection) that is between about 75% and about 125% of the linear,forward travel speed of the surface cleaning head 102 as it travelsacross the surface.

The speed of rotation of the brushes may be adjusted based on thesurface being cleaned. For example, if a carpet is being cleaned, thenthe speed of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may be selectedso that it is approximately the same as the forward travel speed of thesurface cleaning head 102 when travelling over a carpeted surface.Selecting a speed of this nature may reduce the relative movementbetween the outer portion of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174and the carpeted surface (optionally to approximately zero), which mayhelp reduce wear of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174. This maybe automatically achieved by a sensor, e.g., a torque sensor thatdetermines the torque applied to a rotating hard floor brush while theapparatus is in a carpet cleaning mode (it is used to clean a carpet).Similarly, if a hard floor is being cleaned, the speed of the rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 172 may be selected so that it is between about75% and about 125% of the linear, forward travel speed of the surfacecleaning head 102 when travelling over a hard floor surface.

When in the hard floor cleaning mode, the rotating hard floor cleaningbrush 174, and optionally the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174, may berotated at a rate of rotation of between about 1000 and about 2400 RPM,and when in the carpet cleaning configuration, the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174, and optionally the rotating carpet cleaning brush174, may be rotated at a rate of rotation of about 2400 and about 5000RPM.

The different rotational speeds may be achieved by varying the speed ofthe brush motors (if two brush motors are provided) or altering agearing ratio (if a single brush motor is provided) either manually (bya switch accessible to the user) or automatically based on a modeselection actuator or other suitable apparatus controller.

The rotating agitators may be helpful when cleaning carpets and othersurfaces, and may be of any suitable configuration. The two rotatingagitators may be configured so that the diameter 412 of the rotatinghard floor cleaning brush 174 is between about 75% and about 125% of thediameter 414 of the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174, and optionallythe diameters 412 and 414 may be approximately the same.

The rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 may be any carpet cleaning brushknown in the art and may be provided with relatively stiff bristles,such as to help clean carpet, while the rotating hard floor cleaningbrush 174 may be may be any hard floor cleaning brush known in the art,and may be provided with relatively softer bristles, such as to helpclean hard floor surfaces.

Optionally, the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 may include one ormore rows of relatively stiff (i.e. generally self-supporting) bristlesthat are provided around the circumference of the brush 172. Forexample, the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 in FIG. 57 includes tworows of relatively stiff bristles 177 that are spaced apart from eachother and positioned circumferentially around rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174 (approximately opposite each other as illustrated). In someembodiments, the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 may include only asingle type of bristles (such as bristles 177) but may have any suitablenumber of rows of bristles. Optionally, the rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174 may include two or more different types of bristles that mayhave different sizes, lengths, diameters, stiffness, materials, coloursand the like. This may help facilitate different types of cleaning usinga common rotating carpet cleaning brush 174. For example, the rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 174 may include a plurality of spaced apart rowsof bristles positioned circumferentially around the carpet brush 172wherein a first group of the rows of bristles, such as the rows 177,have a relatively lower stiffness and a second group of the rows ofbristles, such as rows 179 that have a relatively a higher stiffness.

Optionally, the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may have anabsence of stiff, self-supporting carpet cleaning bristles, and insteadmay have a generally continuous covering of relatively soft, flexiblefilaments, which in some embodiments may not be self-supporting. Thesurface may of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may have agenerally soft, plush-like texture and may be similar to woven fabrics,microfiber, terrycloth or the like. In some embodiments, the rotatingroller may include a plurality of generally radially extendingelastomeric paddles that can be spaced apart from each other around theperimeter of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174, and may beinterspersed between different types of flexible filaments or the like.The embodiment of FIG. 59 illustrates one example of a rotating hardfloor cleaning brush 174 having a pair of elastomeric paddles 408interspersed with a covering of flexible filaments 410 (e.g., amicrofiber pad). In other embodiments, the roller 174 need not includethe elastomeric paddles and may have a generally homogeneous outersurface.

Optionally, one or more debriding members, such as a comb 406, can beprovided to engage the surface of the soft roller 174 and to help removedebris from the roller 174. The debriding member(s) may be positioned inany suitable position relative to the soft roller 174 and may, forexample, be positioned to extend generally forwardly and downwardly fromthe inner surface of the brush chamber 354, and may engage an upper,rearward portion of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 asillustrated in the embodiments of FIGS. 56 and 57. Positioning the comb406 in this position may help direct the dislodged debris into the dirtyfluid inlet 104.

While shown as being different types of agitators, the two agitatorsshown may be the same, and may both be rotating brushes 172, rotatingrollers 174 or other suitable agitators.

The rotating agitators 172 and 174 may be housed in a suitable brushchamber within the surface cleaning head 102 that has a generallydownwardly facing opening. The opening to the brush chamber may providethe dirty fluid inlet 104, and both liquid and solid debris may passthrough the brush chamber as they are sucked into dirty fluid flow path.

Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10, the surfacecleaning head 102 need not include rotating agitators or a brushchamber. Instead, the dirty fluid inlet 104 may be provided in the formof a relatively narrow slot or other such inlet passage. Such anembodiment may be beneficial if the apparatus is designed to be usedsolely as an extractor. Alternately, apparatus 100 may have areplaceable surface cleaning head and surface cleaning head of FIG. 11may be a installed when the apparatus is to be used in a n extractormode.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 11, the surface cleaning head 102may have two dirty fluid inlets 104, one provided at the front end andone provided at the rear end of the surface cleaning head 102. Eachdirty fluid inlet 104 can include a brush chamber, and rotating agitatortherein (such as rollers 174). The fluid flow paths from each dirtyfluid inlet 104 may converge (either within the surface cleaning head102 or downstream from the surface cleaning head) before entering thetreatment unit 130. Alternatively, the treatment unit 130 may have twoinlets. It will be appreciated that each end may have a different dirtyair inlet and rotating brush member. For example, the front end may havea carpet cleaning brush 172 and a suitable dirty air inlet and the rearend may have a hard floor roller 174 and a suitable dirty air inlet.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the surface cleaninghead 102 may include only a single rotating agitator, such as roller 174(or brush 172), instead of the two agitators shown in FIGS. 5-9.

Surface Cleaning Head with Front Roller

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, a hard floor brush 174 may be usedto reduce and preferably inhibit air from travelling rearwardly betweenroller 174 and the surface being cleaned at least when the apparatus 100is used in an extractor mode. AN advantage of this design is that theapparatus may be used to remove larger debris from the floor whileenhancing the suction at a location of the liquid intake rearward of theroller 174.

Referring to FIGS. 56 and 57, embodiments of a surface cleaning head 102is shown in a schematic, cross-sectional view. The surface cleaning head102 has a front end 350 and an opposing rear end 352 that includes therear wheels 110. A hard floor brush chamber 354 is provided toward thefront end 350, and includes a front wall 355 and an upper wall 356. Thebrush chamber 354 may be of any suitable configuration, and may beconfigured to hold any suitable type of agitator, including the rotatingcarpet cleaning brush 172 as shown in FIG. 57. The dirty fluid inlet 104is provided behind the brush chamber 354, and in fluid communicationwith the brush chamber 354, so that debris that is dislodged by therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 can be conveyed into the dirtyfluid inlet 104 for treatment.

If a front soft, rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 is utilized, therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 can be positioned so that itextends to and engages the floor, including a hard floor surface, whenthe surface cleaning head 102 is positioned on a hard floor surface.This may help limit the about of air that can pass beneath the rotatinghard floor cleaning brush 174. In this arrangement the front of thesurface cleaning head may be defined in part by a forward side of thesoft, rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174. Accordingly, the plasticcasing of the surface cleaning head may terminate, e.g., part way downthe front of the soft, rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174. Anadvantage of this design is that larger debris, e.g., popcorn, may passunder the soft, rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 to allow thesurface cleaning head to remove debris from a surface (i.e. a vacuumcleaning operation) prior to using water and/or a chemical solution toclean the surface. In such a case, the soft, rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 may effectively form a seal with the floor, and orthe surface cleaning head, thereby inhibiting air travelling into adirty air inlet from in front of the surface cleaning head and therebyincrease the draw of fluid from, e.g., carpet.

As exemplified, the front end 350 of the surface cleaning head 102 maybe spaced above the floor by a front height 358. The front height 358may be any suitable height and may be, for example, at least about 0.1inches, about 0.2 inches, about 0.25 inches, about 0.3 inches, about 0.4inches, about 0.5 inches, about 0.75 inches or more and may be less thanabout 3 inches, about 2.5 inches, about 2 inches, about 1.5 inches,about 1 inch or less. In some embodiments, the height 358 may be betweenabout 0.25 inches and about 1.5 inches, between about 0.5 inches andabout 1.25 inches and between about 0.75 inches and about 1 inch.Preferably, if the surface cleaning head 102 is configured to be usedfor both dry vacuuming and wet extracting, the front height 358 isselected so that the surface cleaning head 102 can be moved over commontypes of debris, such as dirt, sand and relatively larger objects thatare on the floor. Providing a sufficient front height 358 may also helpthe surface cleaning head 102 to traverse changes in floor elevation,such as when moving onto a carpet, rug and/or across a transition todifferent flooring types.

When operating in an extractor mode to pick up liquid, it may bedesirable to help create at least a partial seal around the dirty fluidinlet 104. Providing some sealing around the dirty fluid inlet 104 mayhelp improve its liquid pick-up performance, and may help create fasterair flow velocities. To help provide such, at least partial, sealing,this embodiment of the surface cleaning head 102 includes a rotatinghard floor cleaning brush 174 that has a generally continuous coveringof soft hair or fibers or other flexible bristle elements—as compared toa rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 that includes relativelydiscontinuous, discrete tufts of bristles (hard or soft). The surfacecleaning head 102 may be configured to include only the rotating hardfloor cleaning brush 174 (FIG. 56) or may include a rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 toward the front of the surface cleaning head 102,and a rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 positioned rearward of therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174.

The covering of the roller 174 may contact the floor acrosssubstantially the entire width of the roller 174, which may help sealthe front end of the surface cleaning head 102. This may create arelatively sealed region 360 between the roller 174 and the dirty fluidinlet 104, which may help improve liquid pick-up. Because of theflexible, pliable nature of the roller 174, it may be able to provide atleast some sealing, while retaining the ability to deform around andaccommodate relatively large pieces of solid debris.

Optionally, the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 may also contactor otherwise engage at least a portion of the inner surface of the brushchamber 354 to help at least partially seal against the inner surface ofthe brush chamber 354. This may help prevent air from flowing around theupper portion of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 and theinner surface of the brush chamber 354. Such engagement can be providedat any suitable point along the perimeter of the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174, and preferably may be provided on a generallyforward or upward facing portion of the rotating hard floor cleaningbrush 174. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 56, the spacingbetween the inner surface of the brush chamber 354 and the outer surfaceof the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 does not remain constantaround the perimeter of the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174.Instead, a generally forward portion 353 of the inner surface of thebrush chamber 354 is positioned to engage the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174. This can at least partially seal the spacesurrounding the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174, and mayessentially inhibit air travelling upwardly over the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 and into/through the brush chamber 354.

Movable Dirty Fluid Inlet

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the dirty air inlet may beadjustable to have an increased air flow velocity or suction proximatethe surface of a carpet so as to be able to draw more fluid from carpetduring operation of apparatus 100 as an extractor. Accordingly, at leasta portion of the air flow path within the surface cleaning head 102 maybe movable or otherwise re-configurable to help adjust the relativeheight of the dirty fluid inlet 104 above the floor, e.g., duringoperation of apparatus 100 as an extractor. This may help modify thesuction performance of the surface cleaning head 102. For example, thedirty fluid inlet 104 may be positioned relatively close to the floorwhen extracting liquids, and may be positioned relatively farther fromthe floor when vacuuming solids.

In the embodiment of FIG. 56, a conduit 362 that forms part of the fluidflow path can be pivoted about pivot joint 364 (in the direction ofarrows A), so as to change the distance 366 between and inlet end 368 ofthe conduit 362 (functioning as the dirty fluid inlet 104) and thefloor. This pivoting may be done manually by a user, and/or may beautomatically controlled based on the operation mode of the apparatus100, the nature of the floor being cleaned and the like.

In this embodiment, a portion of the conduit 362 extends along agenerally vertical inlet axis 370, and air entering the inlet end 368may tend to travel generally parallel to the inlet axis 370.

The surface cleaning head 102 may optionally include the delivery nozzle164 and a portion of the associated delivery lines 202, as shown in FIG.56. The other surface cleaning heads 102 described herein may also beconfigured to include the delivery nozzle 164, and optionally otherportions of the liquid reservoir apparatus 162.

Referring to FIG. 57, another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 102includes a hard floor roller 174 positioned in a brush chamber 354forward of the dirty fluid inlet 104, and a rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174 positioned in a second carpet brush chamber 354 positionedbehind the dirty fluid inlet 104. Alternatively, as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 58, the surface cleaning head 102 may include twobrush chambers 354 positioned forward of the dirty fluid inlet 104, eachincluding a suitable roller 174 as shown. It will be appreciated thatthis embodiment may use two carpet cleaning brushes 172, two hard floorbrushes 174 or a hard floor brush 174 forward of a carpet cleaning brush172, all forward of the dirty fluid inlet 104.

Optionally, instead of orienting the conduit 362 such that inlet end 368is generally downward facing and the inlet axis 370 is generallyvertical, as shown in FIGS. 56-58, the surface cleaning head 102 may beconfigured so that the inlet end 368 is generally forward facing and theinlet axis 370 is generally horizontal (i.e. extends in the front/backdirection) as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 59 to 61. This may helpthe dirty fluid inlet 104 to collect solid and liquid debris that isexiting the brush chambers 354.

Operating Components in the Surface Cleaning Head

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the surface cleaning apparatus 100may be configured so that at least one or optionally some, or optionallyall of the operating components of the treatment unit 130 and/orcleaning unit 120, may be provided in the surface cleaning head 102,instead of on the movable upright section 116. Providing one or more ofthe components within the surface cleaning head 102 may help reduce theamount of weight a user has to hold when maneuvering the apparatus 100via the upright section 116. It may also help lower the overall centreof gravity of the apparatus 100. This configuration may also simplifysome portions of the fluid flow path, and reduce the distance and/orheight that liquid needs to be translated within the fluid flow path.

For example, one or more water containers (e.g., a clean water tank orclean solution tank 200 and/or a recovered liquid reservoir, may beprovided as part of (e.g., in, on) the surface cleaning head 102.Accordingly, the weight of the liquid may be provided in the surfacecleaning head, thereby lowering the hand weight of the drive handle ofapparatus 100.

As exemplified in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the first separator 132, i.e.momentum separator 140, is provided in the surface cleaning head 102,while the second separator 134 and suction motor 124 are provided in thecleaning unit 120 on the upright section 116. In this arrangement, thetreatment unit 130 is split between the upright section 116 and thesurface cleaning head 102. An advantage of this embodiment is that thewater extracted from a surface need not be raised to the upper sectionand thereby reduce energy requirements, particularly in a batteryoperated version.

In the example of FIGS. 13A and 13B, the liquid reservoir apparatus 162is also provided in the surface cleaning head 102, along with thedelivery nozzle 164. This may help reduce the distance that the liquidfrom the liquid reservoir 162 needs to be pumped in order to reach thedelivery nozzle 164 as well as the hand weight of the upper section. Itwill be appreciated that liquid reservoir apparatus 162 may be providedin the surface cleaning head 102 if all of the treatment unit 130 islocated elsewhere (e.g., on upright section 116 as exemplified in FIGS.16a -16 f.

Alternatively, the liquid reservoir 162 could be provided on the uprightsection, as indicated using dashed lines.

FIG. 14 exemplifies an all-in-the-head type surface cleaning apparatus100 wherein all of the functional components of the apparatus (firstseparator 132, second separator 134 and suction motor 124) are providedwithin the surface cleaning head 102. In this example, the cyclonechamber 142 is configured as a uniflow cyclone, in which the cyclone airinlet 152 is at one end of the cyclone chamber 142 (the upper end asshown) and the cyclone chamber air outlet 158 is at the opposing end ofthe cyclone chamber 142. Optionally, the treatment unit 130 may beremovable from the surface cleaning head 102 in this embodiment, and maybe removable in a closed or sealed configuration, but for the momentumseparator fluid inlet 146 and the cyclone chamber air outlet 158. One ormore of the upper wall, a side wall and a lower wall of the treatmentunit 130 can then be openable to allow the liquid collection container148 and solid collection chamber 144 to be emptied simultaneously.Alternately, a portion of the liquid collection container 148 and solidcollection chamber 144 may be part of the exterior surface of theapparatus 100 and a wall (e.g., lid or upper housing) need not be openedto enable access to the liquid collection container 148 and solidcollection chamber 144 for removal.

FIGS. 15 and 16 a-16 f exemplify providing the liquid collectioncontainer 148 in the surface cleaning head 102. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 15 and 16 a-16 f, a single stage separator, which uses a cyclonechamber 142, is provided on the upright section 116, while the liquidcollection container 148 is provided in the surface cleaning head 102.In this embodiment, the liquid collection container 148 is connectedusing suitable liquid flow conduit(s) 380 to allow liquid separated bythe cyclone chamber 142 flow down to the liquid collection container148. Optionally, a pump 318 or other suitable mechanism (gravity flow)can be included to help facilitate the liquid transfer to the liquidcollection container 148. This embodiment is also arranged so that theliquid delivery system, including the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 andnozzle 164, is also included in the surface cleaning head 102, such thatit is also separated from the cleaning unit 120 when the cleaning unitis detached.

Optionally, regardless of the position of momentum separator 140, themomentum separator 140 may be removable from the surface cleaning head102 for emptying and/or maintenance. In some embodiments, regardless ofthe position of momentum separator 140, the momentum separator 140 maybe removable with at least a portion of the fluid flow path between thedirty fluid inlet 104 and the momentum separator 140 may be removablefor cleaning, and the surface cleaning head 102 may include a removablepipe, hose or other type of conduit. Optionally, the removable portionof the fluid flow path may be removable in unison with the momentumseparator 140, or independently from the momentum separator 140.

Applying a Cleaning Solution to at Least One Agitation Member

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the apparatus may be configured sothat a particular cleaning solution is provided to a particular brush.Accordingly, instead of, or in addition to, providing a nozzle 164 toapply the cleaning solution to the floor (such as by positioning it onthe front end 350 of the surface cleaning head as exemplified in FIG.6A), a surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be configured to apply thecleaning solution(s) to a selected one or more than one of the rotatingagitators (such as roller 174 and/or brush 172). Accordingly, thesurface cleaning head may be configured to include two rotatingagitators, and may be operable to apply the cleaning solutionselectively to a specific agitator. In accordance with this aspect, forexample, a hard floor roller may have a hard floor cleaning solutionapplied to it and/or a carpet cleaning brush may have a carpet cleaningsolution applied to it. This may help facilitate applying the cleaningsolution to the areas of the floor that are engaged by the rotatingagitator and/or may help prevent over use of the cleaning solution.

In accordance with this aspect, a hard floor cleaning solution may beapplied to the roller 174 that is intended to be used when cleaning hardfloors, whereas a carpet cleaning solution may be applied to therotating carpet cleaning brush 174 that is intended to be used whencleaning carpets. This may help facilitate the application of anappropriate cleaning solution onto an appropriate agitator and/or onto adesired type of surface to be cleaned. A surface cleaning head mayinclude a single liquid applicator/nozzle that could be reorientedand/or repositioned to independently apply a different cleaning solutionto each of the rotating agitators, and/or may include at least oneseparate liquid applicator/nozzle for each rotating agitator. Providingseparate applicators for each rotating agitator may help preventcross-contamination and/or mixing of different cleaning solutions thatare used with different rotating agitators. It may also facilitateapplying liquids (optionally different liquids) simultaneously to eachrotating agitator. The cleaning solution applicators may be connected toany of the liquid delivery systems described herein, or other suitablesource of cleaning solution.

Referring to FIG. 67A, this embodiment of a surface cleaning head 102includes a rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 and a rotating carpetcleaning brush 172 that are spaced apart from each other. The surfacecleaning head 102 also includes, in accordance with another aspect,portions of the liquid delivery system for the surface cleaningapparatus 100, including a pump 204 a and associated motor 206 a thatcan be used to supply liquid from any suitable reservoir (such as areservoir tank 200 a on the upright section 116) to a nozzle 164 a, viathe liquid delivery line 202 a and a pump 204 b and associated motor 206b that can be used to supply liquid from the same or a differentreservoir to a nozzle 164 b, via the liquid delivery line 202 b. Eachnozzle 164 a, 164 b is positioned within the brush chamber 354containing a rotating brush 174, 172 and is toward the upper side of thebrush chamber 354 in this example. Liquid, such as water or any othersuitable hard floor cleaning solution can be transferred from the nozzle164 a to the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174, such as bydripping, spraying a mist, spraying a stream of liquid and the like. Theliquid can then be carried by the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174to the surface being cleaned. Similarly a liquid may be applied to thecarpet cleaning brush 164 b.

The rate at which a liquid is applied to either the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 or rotating carpet cleaning brush 172 may be variable(for example, by changing the operating speed of the pumps 204 a and 204b), and may be any suitable amount. For example, liquid may be deliveredto either agitator 172 or 174 at a rate of between about 10 to about 100mL/minute or more than 100 mL/minute, or any other suitable rate.

The liquid may be applied at different rates to the different agitators172 and 174. For example, in the hard floor cleaning mode, the cleaningsolution may delivered at a first rate and in the carpet cleaning mode,the cleaning solution (either the same solution or a different solution)may be delivered at a second rate that is faster than the first rate.For example, liquids that are applied to the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 and intended for use in hard floor cleaning (e.g.hard floor cleaning solution) may be applied at a rate of between about10 to about 100 mL/minute, while liquids that are applied to therotating carpet cleaning brush 172 and intended for use in a carpetcleaning (carpet cleaning solutions) may be applied at a rate of atleast 100 mL/minute.

Optionally, instead of providing separate nozzles 164 a and 164 b foreach rotating agitator, the surface cleaning head 102 may include only asingle nozzle, such as an exemplary embodiment of an optional nozzle 164a shown in dashed lines in FIG. 67A. The nozzle 164 a may be movable,such as by pivoting about pivot joint 165, between a first position inwhich it is facing and can apply liquid to the rotating carpet cleaningbrush 172 (as shown in FIG. 67A), and second position in which it isfacing and can apply liquid to the rotating hard floor cleaning brush174. The nozzle 164 may be moved between its first and second positionsmanually, for example using a lever or other actuator that can beaccessed by a user, or automatically, such as by using an electric motorthat is in communication with a suitable controller.

Referring to FIG. 67B, in this embodiment, a single nozzle 164 isslidably mounted on a linear rail 446 that is provided within the brushchamber 254, such that the nozzle 164 can be moved between a firstposition in which it can spray liquid onto the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 (as shown in FIG. 67B), and a second position inwhich it can spray liquid onto the rotating carpet cleaning brush 172.In the illustrated example, the nozzle 164 can slide in theforward/rearward direction when moving between the first and secondpositions. The liquid supply line 202 may be extensible, flexible, orotherwise configured to help accommodate movement of the nozzle 164,while still maintaining a desired fluid connection to the tank 200. Itwill be appreciated that other translating mechanisms may be used.

If a single nozzle 164 is used, it may be connected to any suitableliquid delivery system and may optionally be selectably supplied with atleast two different cleaning solutions. For example, a valve or othersuch mechanism may be provided upstream from the nozzle 164 and may beconfigured to selectably connect the nozzle 164 to a hard floor cleaningsolution reservoir and a carpet cleaning reservoir. When the nozzle 164is facing the rotating carpet cleaning brush 172 it may be connected tothe carpet cleaning solution reservoir, and when it is moved to face therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 it may be connected to the hardfloor cleaning solution reservoir. The operation of the valve may bemanually, or may be linked to the orientation of the nozzle 164, theapparatus operating mode or the like and may be automatically controlledby a suitable controller.

FIG. 68 exemplifies another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 102that includes two nozzles 164 a and 164 b. Instead of being connected toa remote liquid reservoir, as shown in FIGS. 67A and 68B, in thisembodiment the liquid delivery system includes a hard floor cleaningsolution reservoir tank 200 a, that is connected to nozzle 164 a via thesupply line 202 a. When motor 206 a and pump 204 a are activated, liquidcan be drawn from the hard floor cleaning solution reservoir tank 200 aand sprayed onto the rotating hard floor cleaning brush 174. When motor206 b and pump 204 b are activated, liquid can be drawn from the hardfloor cleaning solution reservoir tank 200 b and sprayed onto the carpetcleaning brush 172. Optionally, as discussed herein, either or both ofthe tank 200 a, 200 b can be configured as a refillable reservoircontainer, or alternatively may be a single use, replaceable cartridge.If the tank 200 a,b is removable, some or all of the supply line 202 a,202 b may also be removable.

Optionally, the motor 206 b and pump 204 b may be activatedindependently from motor 206 a and pump 204 a, and vice versa.Optionally, the embodiments of FIGS. 67A and 67B may also include one ormore liquid reservoir tanks 200 in the surface cleaning head 102.

Optionally, in the embodiments of FIG. 67A-68, the operation of themotors 206 a and 206 b may be linked to the rotational speed of therotating hard floor cleaning brush 174 and/or rotating carpet cleaningbrush 174, such that the pumps 204 a and 204 b operate a faster rate andsupply more cleaning solution when the rotating hard floor cleaningbrush 174 and/or rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 are rotatingquickly, and the pumps 204 a and 204 b operate a relatively slower rateand supply less cleaning solution when the rotating hard floor cleaningbrush 174 and/or rotating carpet cleaning brush 174 are rotatingrelatively slower. In such examples the pumps 204 a and 204 b may bedriven by the same drive apparatus that drives the rotating hard floorcleaning brush 174 and/or the rotating carpet cleaning brush 174.Alternatively, the motors 206 a and 206 b may be sped up or slowed downby a suitable controller, based on the agitator rotation speed, therebyadjusting the pumps 204 a and 204 b operating rate. Any of the flowrates discussed herein may be used.

Removable Fluid Flow Path

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, a fluid flow path has one or moreopenable and/or removable segments, which are upstream of the separatorand may help facilitate maintenance and cleaning of the fluid flow paththrough which liquid travels. These embodiments of the fluid flow pathmay be used in combination with any of the other features and/or aspectsof the surface cleaning apparatuses described herein, including any ofthe dual stage treatment units, single stage treatment units, reclinelimiting and/or mode controlling apparatuses, liquid delivery systems,surface cleaning heads, apparatuses with above floor cleaning mode(s)and/or lift away configurations, and may also utilize features describedin relation to embodiments of the hand held surface cleaningapparatuses.

When drawing in liquid, the interior for the fluid flow path upstream ofthe wet separator become dirty, blocked or otherwise fouled. Forexample, when the apparatus 100 is used in an extractor mode, at leastsome of the dirty liquid being extracted may tend remain in parts of thefluid flow path and those portions may not dry out during normal use andstorage. Accordingly, odors may build up in those portions of the fluidflow path. Optionally, to help facilitate cleaning of the fluid flowpath, at least one portion of the fluid flow path upstream of theseparator may be removable from the rest of the apparatus 100.Preferably, the removable portion(s) can include portions of the fluidflow path that are likely to retain liquid. In particular one or moreportions of the air flow path that extend from the surface cleaning head102 to the liquid separator portion of the treatment unit 130 mayberemovable.

The removable portion of the fluid flow path may be a single, continuousportion or may include two or more removable segments. The two or moresegments may optionally be configured to be independently removable,which may allow a user to remove some of the removable portion of thefluid flow path while leaving other segments in place.

In some embodiments, the removable portion of the fluid flow path may belimited to rigid conduits, pipes, flexible hoses and other such fluidconveying members, but need not include any of the separators 132, 134or other functional components of the surface cleaning apparatus. Inother embodiments, the removable portion of the fluid flow path mayinclude one or more separators or other functional components. Forexample, a liquid separator 132 may be removable in unison with at leasta portion of the fluid flow conduits that extend from the dirty fluidinlet 104 to the liquid separator inlet 146 or other portion of thesurface cleaning head 102 (see FIGS. 63B and 13B for example). If asingle stage treatment unit 130 is used, the removable portions of thefluid flow path may include the single stage separator (such as thecyclone chambers 142 described herein) along with at least a portion ofthe fluid flow path upstream from the cyclone fluid inlet 152.Optionally, substantially the entire portion of the fluid flow path thatextends between dirty fluid inlet 104 and the inlet of the treatmentunit (optionally either 146 or 152) can be removable.

Referring to FIG. 62, a schematic example of a surface cleaningapparatus 100 includes a removable fluid flow path portion that formsthe portion of the fluid flow path between the dirty fluid inlet 104 andthe momentum separator 140. Referring also to FIG. 63A, the removableportion includes a hose 372 that can be connected to the apparatus usingdetachable couplings 374 and can be removed when desired. The hose 372may be one continuous conduit, such as a continuous, flexible hose asillustrated, or may include two or more segments that are detachablefrom each other (illustrated as an optional lower segment 372 a andseparately removable upper segment 372 b). If the removable portionincludes two or more segments, they may have different configurations.For example, one segment may include rigid piping, while another segmentmay include a flexible hose. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13A and 13B, theremovable segment 372 is substantially rigid (i.e. pipe-likeconfiguration), and includes a rigid lower segment 372 a connected(optionally removably) to a rigid upper segment 372 b.

In this embodiment, the removable segment 372 need not form part of thestructural support of the apparatus 100, and may be removably housed incorresponding frames 376 and extend through the pivot joint or othermovable connection between the upright section 116 and the surfacecleaning head 102.

Alternatively, some or all of the removable segments of the air flowpath may be structural, load bearing components. For example, theremovable portion may include rigid conduit sections that can beattached together to form part of the upright section 116, surfacecleaning head 102, a movable connection joining and supporting theupright section 116 to the surface cleaning head 102. The segments maybe joined using any suitable latches, threaded connections, couplings,clips and the like.

Optionally, the removable segment(s) 372 of the fluid flow path mayinclude some, or the entirety of the movable joint that connects theupright section 116 to the surface cleaning head 102 (e.g. one or morepivot joints, rotatory joints and the like that are incorporated intothe fluid flow path removable segment 372). Alternatively, removablesegments 372 in the surface cleaning head 102 and upright section 116(if any) may be independently removable, and may be coupled to anon-removable, movable joint. Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, in thisembodiment the liquid separator 132 is removable from the surfacecleaning head 102 as a unit with rigid, pipe-like sections 372 of thefluid flow path upstream from the liquid separator 132, as well as withthe pivot joint 109 and a rigid conduit section 372 c extending upwardlyfrom the pivot joint 109 (to which the upright section 116 and auxiliarydirty fluid inlet 104 a can be mounted). In this embodiment, at leastsome of the removable segments of the fluid flow path are provided inthe surface cleaning head 102, and some removable segments 372 a and 372b are upstream from the separator 132 while another removable segment372 c is downstream from the separator 132.

As exemplified in FIG. 13B, the liquid separator may be in the surfacecleaning head. Accordingly, all of the flow path from the brush chamberto the liquid separator may be removed, optionally with the liquidseparator or liquid reservoir 148 by, e.g., remove the parts upwardlyfrom the surface cleaning head.

A removable portion may be provided in the fluid flow path of anysuitable configuration of surface cleaning apparatus, including theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-16 and 64-66.

Optionally, as least some of the fluid flow path, and optionally atleast some of the removable segments, such as a removable hose 372 inFIG. 63B can be transparent, which may help a user evaluate thecondition of the interior of the fluid flow path without having toremove the segment(s) 372.

Above Floor Cleaning Mode(s)

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the apparatus may include an abovefloor cleaning mode. These embodiments may be used in combination withany of the other features and/or aspects of any of the dual stagetreatment units, single stage treatment units, recline limiting and/ormode controlling apparatuses, liquid delivery systems, surface cleaningheads, apparatuses with openable fluid flow paths and/or above floorcleaning mode(s, and may also utilize features described in relation toembodiments of the hand held surface cleaning apparatuses.

In accordance with this aspect, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 maybe operable in at least one above floor cleaning mode, in which air flowcommunication between the cleaning unit 120 and dirty fluid inlet 104 isinterrupted, and one or more auxiliary dirty fluid inlets 104 a areutilized as the inlet for the surface cleaning apparatus 100. This mayhelp a user clean furniture, drapes, automobiles and other objects thatare above the floor and/or for which the use of the surface cleaninghead 102 is not required or desired.

The above floor cleaning mode(s) may be provided by reconfiguring atleast a portion of the fluid flow path that was also utilized thenoperating in the floor cleaning mode (i.e. forms part of the air flowpath between the dirty fluid inlet 104 and the cleaning unit 120) or byproviding a different fluid flow path (i.e. portions of the fluid flowpath between auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a and the cleaning unit 120do not form part of the fluid flow path between the dirty fluid inlet104 and the cleaning unit 120) or a combination of both.

In particular, an above floor cleaning wand and hose may not be part ofthe flow path when the apparatus is operated in an extractor mode. Forexample, when a user uses the apparatus to extract or pick up liquid,the wand and hose may be excluded from the flow path. One advantage ofthis design is that the wand and hose need not come into contact withwater. This can prevent water being present in the wand and hose andcausing fowling of the wand and hose and the buildup of odors therein.Also, the flow path to the separation unit may be shortened by excludingthe wand and hose, which may reduce the energy required to draw liquidinto the separator.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the illustrated embodiment of the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 has a floor cleaning fluid flow path that isextends between the dirty fluid inlet 104 of the surface cleaning head102 and the cleaning unit 120 (and the separators therein) and includesa rigid, floor cleaning wand 125 and a hose 122 downstream from the wand125. In this embodiment, both the wand 125 and hose 122 form part of thefloor cleaning airflow path from the surface cleaning head 102 to theclean air outlet 138 (and including the treatment unit 130 and suctionmotor 124) when arranged in an upright mode as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For above floor cleaning, a user can detach an above floor cleaningmember, which in this example includes the wand 125 and hose 122 (FIG.3), which interrupts the fluid communication between the surfacecleaning head 102 and the cleaning unit 120 and utilizes the upstreamend of the wand 125 as the auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a.Reconfiguring the surface cleaning apparatus 100 in this manner createsan above floor fluid flow path that extends from the second, auxiliarydirty fluid inlet 104 a to the clean air outlet 138 and that includesthe treatment unit 130 and the suction motor 124. In this embodiment, ifa nozzle 164 is provided on the wand, the apparatus 100 may still beused in both the wet and dry suction modes in both floor cleaning andabove floor cleaning modes, as both the first and second separators 132and 134 are included in both the floor cleaning and above floor fluidflow paths.

In this embodiment of FIG. 4, if the delivery system is provided in thesurface cleaning head 102 or a cleaning fluid delivery conduit isprovided along the length of the wand and hose, then the apparatus 100may still be used in both the wet and dry suction modes in both floorcleaning and above floor cleaning modes, as both the first and secondseparators 132 and 134 are included in both the floor cleaning and abovefloor fluid flow paths.

Alternatively, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, theapparatus may include a mode selection valve 378 that can help directthe fluid flow through the apparatus 100, and may engage or disengagevarious portions of the fluid flow paths based on the operating mode.Optionally, the mode selection valve 378 may be provided upstream of thetreatment unit 130 or, as shown, may be provided in the flow pathbetween the first and second separators 132 and 134.

In this embodiment, the valve 378 is positioned between the fluid outlet150 of the first separator 132 (liquid separator) and the inlet 152 ofthe second separator 134 (dry separator). When operating in a floorcleaning mode (FIG. 5) the valve 378 can be arrange to provide a fluidflow path between the first separator 132 and the second separator 134,but isolate the wand 125 and hose 122 from the floor cleaning fluid flowpath. In this example, the apparatus 100 may be used in either a wet ordry operating mode when in the floor cleaning mode as the floor cleaningfluid flow path extends the dirty fluid inlet 104, through the firstseparator 132 and to an outlet end that is proximate the inlet of thevalve 378 (i.e. upstream from the second separator 134) through whichthe fluid can continue to the second separator 134.

When a user wishes to switch to an above floor cleaning mode (FIG. 6)the user may detach the wand 125, to expose auxiliary dirty fluid inlet104 a, and change the position of the valve 378 (either automaticallywhen the wand is removed or manually) to interrupt the fluid connectionbetween the first separator fluid outlet 150 and the second separatorinlet 152 and establish fluid communication between the second separatorinlet 152 and auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a (including the wand 125and hose 122). In this embodiment, the above floor fluid flow pathextends from the auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a on the wand 125,through the hose 122 to an outlet end that is proximate an inlet of thevalve 378 through which the fluid can enter the second separator 134(dry separator), but the first separator 132 is isolated from the abovefloor fluid flow path.

In this arrangement, the above floor cleaning mode may be limited togenerally dry, vacuuming rather than wet suction/extraction, as theliquid separating portion of the treatment unit 130 has been removedfrom the above floor fluid flow path. The embodiments of the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 in FIGS. 15-16A utilizes a single stage treatmentunit 130 and can be operated in a similar manner. That is, thisembodiment has a mode selection valve 378 that can be positioned in afloor cleaning mode to provide direct fluid communication between thesurface cleaning head 102 and the cyclone fluid inlet 152 (FIG. 15).When in this mode, the apparatus can be used for both wet and drycleaning. To operate in an above floor cleaning mode, the wand 125 canbe detached and the mode selection valve 378 can be re-positioned toprovide fluid communication between the hose 122 and the cyclone fluidinlet 152 (FIG. 16A). Optionally, this embodiment may be operable inboth generally dry, vacuuming and wet suction/extraction when in theabove floor cleaning mode as the first separator 132 remains connectedand can handle both liquid and solid debris. In this embodiment, thewand 125 and hose 122 are not part of the floor cleaning suction fluidflow path, but are included in the above floor cleaning flow path andcan be subjected to wet extraction fluid flows. The wand 125 and hose122 may optionally be removable for cleaning.

Optionally, in any suitable embodiment (including those describedherein), the mode selection valve 378 may be manually actuated by auser. Referring to FIGS. 16B and 16C, one embodiment of a valve 378 thatis suitable for use with the apparatus 100 described herein isconfigured as a manually actuated valve. In this example, the valve 378includes a movable gate 470 that can translate within a housing 472,between a lower position for above floor cleaning (FIG. 16B) in whichthe cyclone air inlet 152 is in communication with the hose 122, and asecond position for floor cleaning (FIG. 16C) in which the cyclone airinlet 152 is in communication with the dirty fluid inlet 104. In thisexample, the gate 470 is connected to manual valve actuator thatincludes a driving rod 474, that a user can manually grasp andraise/lower via tab 476.

Optionally, the mode selection valve 378 may be configured to beautomatically actuated by attaching and/or detaching a portion of thesurface cleaning apparatus 100, such as a hose, wand, auxiliary cleaningtool and the like. For example, connecting a flexible hose to thecleaning unit 120 or moving the downstream end of a hose, such as foruse with above floor cleaning, may automatically re-configured the modeselection valve 378 into an above floor cleaning position, in which airflow communication is established between the hose and the separator,from the floor cleaning position, in which air flow communication isestablished between the dirty fluid inlet on the surface cleaning headand the separator. Referring to FIGS. 16D and 16E, one example of anautomatically actuated mode selection valve 378 includes a movable gate470 that can translate within a housing 472, between a lower positionfor floor cleaning (FIG. 16D) in which the cyclone air inlet 152 is incommunication with the surface cleaning head 102, and a second positionfor above floor cleaning (FIG. 16E) in which the cyclone air inlet 152in communication with the hose 122. In this example, the downstream endof the hose 122 includes a coupling member 478 with a protruding drivemember 480. When the coupling member 478 is mounted on an upper end ofthe housing 472, the drive member 480 bears against a flange 482 that isconnected to the gate 470. As the coupling member 478 is seated, thedrive member 480 presses on the flange 482 driving it downwardly (asillustrated in this example), thereby shifting the gate 470 downward toits lower position (FIG. 16E) and interrupting air flow between thecyclone inlet 152 and the dirty fluid inlet 104. When the hose couplingmember 478 is removed, the gate 470 may be returned to its upperposition (FIG. 16D), thereby re-establishing air flow between the dirtyfluid inlet 104 and the cyclone air inlet 152.

Optionally, as shown in this example, the mode selection valve 378 maybe biased toward one of its operating positions, such as the floorcleaning position as shown in FIG. 16E. In this example, the modeselection valve 378 includes a biasing member in the form of a spring484 that is compressed when the gate 470 is moved to the above floorcleaning position (FIG. 16E). When the hose coupling member 478 isremoved, the biasing force of the spring 484 may help automaticallyreturn the gate 470 to the floor cleaning position (FIG. 16D).

Alternatively, the mode selection valve 378 may include a valve actuatorthat is drivingly connected to the valve 378 and the above floorcleaning member, such as the wand 125 can also be drivingly connected tothe valve actuator. Referring to FIGS. 16F and 16G, one example of amode selection valve 378 is shown can be moved to a floor cleaningposition in which the at least the second separator 134 is in flowcommunication with the first dirty fluid inlet 104 when an inlet,upstream end of the wand 125 is mounted to the upright surface cleaningapparatus (FIG. 16G) and the valve 378 is automatically moved to anabove floor cleaning position in which the at least the second separator134 is in flow communication with the auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 awhen the inlet end of the wand 125 is removed from the upright surfacecleaning apparatus (FIG. 16F).

In this example, the valve 378 includes a movable gate 470 that cantranslate within a housing 472, between an lower position for abovefloor cleaning (FIG. 16F) in which the cyclone air inlet 152 is incommunication with the hose 122, and a second, raised position for floorcleaning (FIG. 16G) in which the cyclone air inlet 152 is incommunication with the dirty fluid inlet 104. In this example, the gate470 includes a movable, hollow conduit portion 470 a and an optionalblocking wall 470 b extending therefrom. When the gate 470 is in thelower position (FIG. 16F) the conduit 470 a establishes air flowcommunication between the cyclone air inlet 152 and the downstream endof the hose 122, while concurrently blocking the up flow duct extendingto the surface cleaning head and dirty fluid inlet 104. When in theraised position, the conduit 470 a is removed from the air flow path,providing air flow communication between the dirty fluid inlet and thecyclone air inlet 152, and the blocking wall 470 b occludes thedownstream end of the hose 122, thereby isolating the hose 122 and wand125 from the fluid flow path. It will be appreciated that a blockingwall 470 b may not be required to inhibit air flow into the downstreamend of hose 122. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 16G,the inlet, upstream end of the wand 125 (i.e. auxiliary dirty fluidinlet 104 a) is mounted to collar 490 (discussed further below), whichmay effectively seal that end of wand 125 and hose 122. Thus, thedownstream end of the hose 122 may be the only opening into the interiorof wand 125 and hose 122. Since there is no effective inlet for airentering the upstream end of the hose 122, air may be effectivelyinhibited or prevented from being drawn out from the downstream opening(outlet) of the hose, even in the absence of a blocking wall 470 b.

In this example, the gate 470 is moved automatically when the upstreamend of the wand 125, which may form the auxiliary air inlet 104 a, isattached or detached from the cleaning unit 120. This may helpautomatically reconfigure the air flow path through the apparatus 100based on whether a user has detached the wand 125 for above floorcleaning, or replaced the wand 125 to resume floor cleaning. In thisembodiment, the actuator for changing the configuration of the modeselection valve 378 includes a rack and pinion linkage, having racks 486a and 486 b that engage a common pinion 488. A movable collar 490 isconnected to the rack 486 a and is configured to engage the upstream endof the wand 125. When the wand 125 is in place, it urges the collar 490downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 16G. When the wand 125 isremoved, the collar 490 can be moved upwardly. This moves the rack 486 aupwardly, which in turn drives the pinion 488 and causes acorresponding, downward movement of rack 486 b which is coupled to thegate 470. When the collar 490 is fully raised (FIG. 16F), the gate 470has been moved into its above floor cleaning position. Replacing thewand 125 causes the reverse operation to occur.

Alternatively, a hollow conduit portion 470 a may not be provided.Instead, blocking wall 470 b may be configured to pivot. For example,when the movable gate is in a lower position for above floor cleaning,blocking wall 470 b may be in a generally horizontal orientation inwhich it occludes the up flow duct extending to the surface cleaninghead and dirty fluid inlet 104, while permitting air flow to the cycloneair inlet 152 from the hose 122 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 16F, but withblocking wall 470 b oriented generally perpendicular to its illustratedorientation). When the movable gate is in a raised position for floorcleaning, blocking wall 470 b may pivot to a generally verticalorientation, in which the up flow duct is not occluded by the blockingwall 470 b and the cyclone air inlet 152 is in communication with thedirty fluid inlet 104 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 16G).

Optionally, as shown in this example, the mode selection valve 378 maybe biased toward one of its operating positions, such as the floorcleaning position as shown in FIG. 16G. In this example, the modeselection valve 378 includes a biasing member in the form of a spring484 that is compressed when the gate 470 is moved to the above floorcleaning position (FIG. 16G). When the wand 125 is removed, the biasingforce of the spring 484 may help automatically return the gate 470 toits floor cleaning position (FIG. 16F).

It will be appreciated that, in a two stage separation system, the valvemay be located at the inlet to the liquid separator and not the inlet tothe second stage separator.

Lift Away

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the floor cleaning apparatus mayinclude a detachable cleaning unit 120 that includes a suction motor andat least one separator (optionally the entire treatment unit 130), suchthat the cleaning unit 120 can be operational as a cleaning apparatuswhen detached from the rest of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. Theseembodiments may enable a user to separate the cleaning unit 120 fromother portions of the surface cleaning apparatus, such as the surfacecleaning head, liquid delivery system, liquid collection container andthe like, which may reduce the amount of weight the user has to carry.Optionally, the cleaning unit 120 may be operable in both wet and drycleaning modes, or in only one of the modes. The modes the cleaning unit120 can be operated in may depend on the nature of the treatment unit130, and or individual separators 132 and 134 that are contained in, andremovable with the cleaning unit 120. These embodiments having adetachable cleaning unit 120 may be used in combination with any of theother features and/or aspects of any of the dual stage treatment units,single stage treatment units, recline limiting and/or mode controllingapparatuses, liquid delivery systems, surface cleaning heads,apparatuses with openable fluid flow paths and/or above floor cleaningmode(s, and may also utilize features described in relation toembodiments of the hand held surface cleaning apparatuses.

Referring to FIG. 4, this embodiment of the surface cleaning apparatus100 is configured so that the cleaning unit 120, containing the suctionmotor 124, in housing 126, and entire treatment unit 130 (whether twostage or one stage) is detachable from the upright section 116 as aportable surface cleaning unit. In this embodiment, both the cleaningunit 120 and wand 125 are mounted to a common support member 384, andmay be individually detached (see wand 125 detached while cleaning unit120 remains attached FIG. 3). This configuration may allow the cleaningunit 120 to remain attached during some above floor cleaning modes (FIG.3) and to be detached from the upright section 116 while remainingfluidly connected to the surface cleaning head 102 (and withoutinterrupting the fluid communication during the attaching and detachingprocess). In this arrangement, the surface cleaning apparatus can beused in both wet and dry modes, whether the cleaning unit 120 isattached (FIG. 2) or detached (FIG. 4). This configuration may alsoreduce the chances of liquid flowing from the momentum separator 140into the cyclone chamber 142 when the upright section 116 is reclined,as the cleaning unit 120 is physically spaced from the momentumseparator 140 and need not be inclined to the same degree as themomentum separator 140 and wand 125. For example, the cleaning unit 120may remain generally upright, while the wand 125 is reclined (FIG. 4).

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6 a, another embodiment of a surface cleaningapparatus 100 is configured to have a portable surface cleaning unit120. In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 120 includes the suctionmotor 124 and second separator 134 (configured to include a cyclonechamber 142 and solid collection chamber 144) but does not include thefirst separator 132 (the momentum separator 140). That is, the cleaningunit 120 includes only a portion of the treatment unit, and removing itsevers the fluid flow connection between the first and second separators132 and 134. In this configuration, the relatively heavy liquid that hasbeen collected in the first separator 132 (as well as optionally theclean fluid reservoir(s)) remains attached to and supported by thesurface cleaning head 102, while a user can detach and carry only therelatively lighter second, dry separator 134. In this embodiment, thecleaning unit 120 is usable for dry vacuuming, but may not be wellsuited to wet, liquid extraction as the cleaning unit 120 does notinclude a wet-type separator. Optionally, this embodiment could bemodified to provide the first separator 132, and liquid collectionchamber 148, as part of the surface cleaning head 102 instead (such ashaving the configuration shown in FIG. 13) rather than being providedabove the pivot joint on the upright section 116. Such a configurationmay help improve the stability of the portions of the surface cleaningapparatus 100 that are left behind when the cleaning unit 120 isremoved.

The lift away embodiments may use any of the above floor cleaningembodiments.

Alternately, or in addition, the free end of the wand 125 (including theauxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a) could be configured so that it can beconnected to the first separator fluid outlet 150 when the cleaning unit120 is detached. This may allow the cleaning unit 120 to re-establishfluid communication with the surface cleaning head 102 and firstseparator 132, while being independently held by the user. This mayallow the apparatus 100 to again be used in a wet, extractor mode whenthe cleaning unit 120 is detached, as the liquid would first be separateby the momentum separator 140 before the incoming dirty fluid travelsthrough the wand 125 and hose 122 and reaches the cyclone chamber 142 inthe cleaning unit 120. This configuration may also reduce the chances ofliquid flowing from the momentum separator 140 into the cyclone chamber142 when the upright section 116 is reclined, as the cleaning unit 120is physically spaced from the momentum separator 140 and need not beinclined to the same degree as the momentum separator 140 and wand 125.

Optionally, the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 a may also include any suitableliquid supply system, including those described herein. Portions of theliquid supply system may be mounted in any suitable locations on thesurface cleaning apparatus 100, including the upright section 116 and/orsurface cleaning head 102. As shown schematically in FIG. 6a , thisembodiment can be also arranged so that the liquid delivery system,including the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 and nozzle 164, is alsoincluded in the surface cleaning head 102. In this configuration, whenthe portable surface cleaning unit 120 is detached, as shown in FIG. 6a, the liquid supply system and first separator 132 can both be leftbehind. This may further reduce the weight of the cleaning unit 120.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, this embodiment of the surface cleaningapparatus 100 is configured with the first stage separator 132(including momentum separator 140) and liquid reservoir apparatus 162 inthe surface cleaning head, with the second stage separator 134(including cyclone chamber 142) and suction motor 124 (i.e. the cleaningunit 120) mounted on the upright section 116. In this arrangement, theupright section 116 can be detached from the surface cleaning head 102(FIG. 13B) exposing an auxiliary dirty fluid inlet 104 a on the lowerend of the rigid conduit that forms part of the upright section 116. Inthis arrangement, the portable cleaning unit 120 can be used whenseparated from the surface cleaning head 102, and the exposed auxiliarydirty fluid inlet 104 a may be used to directly clean a surface and/ormay be connected to any suitable auxiliary cleaning tool, hose, othertype of surface cleaning head (e.g. a separate head that does notinclude the first stage separator 132 and liquid reservoir apparatus162) or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, this embodiment of the surface cleaningapparatus 100 has a detachable cleaning unit 120 that includes treatmentunit 130 with a single stage separator, including cyclone chamber 142,and the suction motor 124, but the liquid collection container 148 andliquid delivery system (including liquid reservoir apparatus 162 andnozzle 164) are provided on and remain with the surface cleaning head102. In this configuration, removing the cleaning unit 120 interruptsthe fluid flow connection between the surface cleaning head 102 (i.e.dirty fluid inlet 104) and the cyclone chamber 142 and also interruptsthe liquid communication between the solid collection chamber 144 andthe liquid collection container 148. This may help reduce the weight ofthe cleaning unit 120, as the heavy liquid collection container 148remains in the surface cleaning head 102. This may further reduce theweight of the cleaning unit 120 when used in a lift-away mode.

Hand Held Surface Cleaning Apparatus

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the surface cleaning apparatus 100may be configured as a hand held or hand held surface cleaningapparatus. Some embodiments of hand held surface cleaning apparatusesare illustrated in FIGS. 64 to 66, may have cleaning units 120 and mayutilize one or more of the aspects and features described herein,including the treatment units 130 and the like. The hard carryablesurface cleaning apparatuses may optionally be connectable to an upperend of wand, such as wand 125 that can be also be connected to a surfacecleaning head 102. This may allow the hand held apparatuses to be usedin a floor cleaning mode. Optionally, a liquid delivery system may beprovided in the surface cleaning head 102 used in combination with thehand held surface cleaning apparatuses illustrated, which may eliminatethe need for the weight and complexity of the liquid reservoir apparatus162 to be incorporated into the hand held structure.

Referring to FIG. 64, a hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100includes a single stage treatment unit 130, having a cyclone chamber 142that is suitable for wet separation (e.g. with blocking collar 248), asolid collection chamber 144 and a liquid collection container 148. Thesuction motor 124 and pre-motor filter 160 are positioned rearward (withrespect to the inlet 104) of the treatment unit 130, and a handle 386provided at the rear end of the apparatus 100. Batteries 388, or anyother suitable on board power source, can also be provided to enablecordless operation, or the apparatus may be operated on householdcurrent using a power cord. In the illustrated example, the batteries388 are positioned rearward of the treatment unit 130, and the suctionmotor 124. This may help provide a desired hand feel to a user and mayhelp reduce the overall size of the hand held surface cleaningapparatus. In other embodiments, the on board power source may be in adifferent location.

In this embodiment, the dirty fluid inlet 104 is provided at the frontend of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, while the handle 386 isprovided toward an opposing, rear end of the surface cleaning apparatus(to the right as illustrated in FIG. 64). In this arrangement, thesuction motor 124 is positioned rearward of the separator that includesthe cyclone chamber 142. This embodiment is also arranged so that theliquid collection container 148 is positioned at the front of thesurface cleaning apparatus 100 and the solid collection chamber 144 ispositioned rearward of at least a portion, and in the illustratedexample, of more than 50% of the liquid collection container 148. Whenoriented horizontally as exemplified in FIG. 64, the solid collectionchamber 144 overlies a portion of the liquid collection container 148.In other embodiments, the solid collection chamber may be entirelyrearward of the liquid collection container 148.

The front end of the apparatus includes an inlet passage that includesan inlet conduit 390, extending along an inlet flow axis 392. The inletconduit 390 may include the dirty fluid inlet 104, and/or may beconfigured to be connected to the wand 125 and surface cleaning head102. As exemplified, the inlet flow axis 392 may extend in the generallyfront/back direction, and is orthogonal to the cyclone axis 154.

The top of the apparatus 100 can include the openable lid 194, which maybe opened to provide simultaneous access to the cyclone chamber 142,solid collection chamber 144 and liquid collection container 148. Anoptional drain 297 may also be provided to assist with emptying theliquid collection container 148. Alternately, the separation unit and/orthe collection chambers 144, 148 may be removable.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 64-66, the cyclone chamber 142 isoriented so that the rotation axis 154 of the cyclone chamber isgenerally vertical when the inlet flow axis 392 is generally horizontal.In this arrangement, the cyclone chamber 142 can be considered to begenerally vertically oriented when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 ispositioned so that the inlet flow axis 392 is horizontal (as illustratedin FIG. 64). When in this position, the separated element outlet 156maybe located toward the upper end/top of the cyclone chamber 142, andthe other operating components of the surface cleaning apparatus 100(such as the suction motor 124, batteries 388) may be positioned belowthe separated element outlet 156.

In the embodiment of FIG. 64, the air flow path through the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 includes an upstream portion (between the dirtyfluid inlet and the cyclone chamber 142) and a downstream portion thatextends from the cyclone chamber air outlet 158 to the suction motor124. This downstream portion can include a pre-motor filter chamber 161and a pre-motor filter 160, and may have a generally rearwardlyextending conduit portion 402 that may extend along a flow axis 404 andair travelling through the conduit portion 402 may therefore tend totravel in the axial direction. As in the illustrated embodiment, theflow axis 404 may be generally parallel to the inlet flow axis 392 andto the axis of rotation 128 of the suction motor 124.

In any embodiment, and preferably in a hand surface cleaning apparatusembodiment, to help prevent inhibit backflow from the treatment unit 130into the suction motor, a blocking member, such as the valve 394 (whichmay be a one way valve such as a check valve) in FIG. 64 can be providedin the fluid flow path upstream from the suction motor 124. The valve394 can be operable to automatically close and seal the fluid flow pathunder given conditions. In this embodiment, the valve 398 is provided atthe cyclone chamber air outlet 158 from the cyclone chamber 142, and canbe triggered if a sensor, e.g., a moisture sensor 342, detects athreshold level of moisture or liquid in the fluid exiting the cyclonechamber 142 or if a float switch or other orientation sensor detectsthat the apparatus is in an orientation in which liquid may flow fromreservoir 148 into the cyclone chamber.

Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 65, the blocking valve394 may be provided in the liquid collection container 148 to helpprevent the back flow of liquid from the liquid collection container 148into the upright section 148 a and/or solid collection chamber 144.Alternately, the blocking member may be provided in solid collectionchamber 144.

Optionally, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 64-66A, the hand heldsurface cleaning apparatus can be configured such that the separatedelement outlet 156 is at or at least located toward the upper end of thecyclone chamber 142, and toward the upper end of the hand held cleaningapparatus 100 when it is resting on a horizontal surface (as illustratedin the Figures). In this configuration, the separated element outlet 156may be position above most, if not all of the other operating componentsof the hand held cleaning apparatus 100. That is, the other operatingcomponents, such as the suction motor 124, cyclone chamber 142,separated liquid collection container 148 (or at least substantialportions thereof), inlet passage 390 and the like are at a position thatis generally below the separated element outlet 156. This may helpreduce the likelihood of solid and/or liquid debris passing backwardthrough the separated element outlet 156 (i.e. back into the cyclonechamber 142) when the hand held cleaning apparatus 100 is in ahorizontal orientation.

Hand Held Surface Cleaning Apparatus with Enlarged Liquid CollectionContainer

Alternately or in addition to having a blocking member, a hand heldapparatus may have a liquid collection reservoir with an overflow tankportion to store recovered liquid when the apparatus is inclined duringuse.

Referring to FIGS. 66a-66c , another embodiment of a hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 64, butincludes an enlarged liquid collection container 148. In thisembodiment, the liquid collection container 148 includes a first portion148 b that is positioned toward the front of the apparatus 100, a secondportion 148 c and a third portion 148 d. In this embodiment, the liquidcollection container 148 is configured so that when the hand heldsurface cleaning apparatus 100 is in a generally vertical orientation(e.g. when the inlet flow axis 392 is generally vertical and/or when thecyclone axis 154 is generally horizontal), the first portion 148 b ispositioned to underlie the separator (i.e. cyclone chamber 142), thesecond portion 148 c would be laterally (rearwardly) spaced from thefirst portion and positioned below (i.e. at a lower elevation butoptionally not underlying) the separator and the third portion 148 dwould be positioned above the second portion 148 c (and extends along aside of the solid collection chamber 144). To help facilitate thisarrangement, the inlet conduit 390 may extend through, or may at leastbe partially surrounded by the liquid collection container 148.

The first, second and third portions 148 b, 148 c and 148 d may beprovided as generally separate chambers or volumes that are connected byports, apertures, flow lines and the like. Alternatively, some or all ofthe first, second and third portions 148 b, 148 c and 148 d can beportions of a substantially contiguous volume (as illustrated in thisembodiment), and need not be separated by walls or other sub-dividedstructures.

In this embodiment, if the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 isused in a floor cleaning mode, the front end will tend to be downwardfacing when in use. When the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 isused in this manner, the separated liquid may tend to collect primarilywin the first portion 148 b and the second portion 148 c, after havingpassed through the solid collection chamber 144, divider 298 and thirdportion 148 c. the upper end of portions 148 b and c may define or havemarked thereon a “maximum fill line”. This is an indication to a usernot to operate the apparatus when the portions 148 b and 148 c are full.If the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 is moved in to agenerally vertical storage position (FIG. 66B), the collected liquid maytend to collect primarily win the first portion 148 b and the secondportion 148 c. As the apparatus is reclined rearwardly, liquid will tendto flow rearwardly and some of the liquid in portion 148 b will tend tofill portion 148 d. If the apparatus is further reclined into agenerally horizontal position (as shown in FIG. 66A, with the cycloneaxis 154 generally vertical), such as being rested on a surface ortable, separated liquid that was retained in portion 148 b when theapparatus is in the vertical orientation will collect in the thirdportion 148 d. Accordingly, providing a third portion in this manner mayhelp serve as an overflow region in the liquid collection container 148,and may help prevent separated liquid from flowing from the firstportion 148 b back into the solid collection chamber 144 and/or cyclonechamber 142.

Optionally, the liquid collection container 148 can be configured sothat the volumes of the first and third portions 148 b and 148 d aregenerally the same, or are within about 10%, about 20%, about 25%, about30%, about 40% and/or about 50% of each other. That is, the thirdportion 148 d may be configured so that it has at least 50%, 60%, 70%,80%, 90% and/or 100% of the volume of the first portion 148 b. In theillustrated embodiment, the third portion 148 d has about the samevolume as the first portion 148 b. This means that if the combination ofthe first portion 148 b and second portion 148 c is substantially filledwhen the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use (i.e.generally vertical or reclined in use), the separated liquid may tend toflow into, and can substantially entirely be accommodated within thecombination of the second portion 148 c and the third portion 148 d ifthe apparatus 100 is rested on a horizontal surface (such as forstorage). This may help prevent the liquid from flowing back into theupright section 148 a and/or solid collection chamber 144. For example,if when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in a vertical orientationand the first and second portions 148 b and 148 c are full withseparated liquid the third portion 148 d may be substantially empty.This may be considered to be a “full” liquid collection container 148(i.e. triggering an alert to the user and/or disabling the suction motor124), even though some space remains in the third portion 148 d. Whenthe surface cleaning apparatus 100 is then moved to a horizontalorientation, the separated liquid can be contained in the second andthird position 148 c and 148 d such that an upper surface of theseparated liquid is positioned below the separated element outlet 156.

In this embodiment, substantially all of the primary portion 148 b ofthe liquid collection container 148 is located forward of the solidcollection chamber 144 and the cyclone chamber 142. In this embodiment,a plane 400 that extends in the generally forward/rearward directionwill intersect the liquid collection container 148, the solid collectionchamber 144 and the cyclone chamber 142, as well as the handle 386 and aportion of the housing containing the suction motor 124. In otherembodiments, the plane 400 may also intersect the motor 124 andbatteries.

Optionally, in addition to having a liquid collection container 148 thatincludes the first, second and third portions 148 b, 148 c and 148 d asillustrated, this embodiment of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 mayalso include a valve that is the liquid flow connection between thesolid collection chamber 144 and the liquid collection container 148,such as by incorporating the valve 394 (which may be a one way valvesuch as a check valve) that is shown in such a position in theembodiment of FIG. 65. In such a configuration, the valve 394 mayprovide flow communication between the solid collection chamber 144 andthe third portion 148 d of the liquid collection container 148. Thevalve 394 may be configured to automatically close as the surfacecleaning apparatus 100 approaches a horizontal orientation (using amechanical actuator and/or in response to a signal issued by theinclination sensor 314), which may provide an additional barrier to theseparate liquid flow backward from the liquid collection container 148and into the solid collection chamber 144 and/or cyclone chamber 142.

Hand Held Surface Cleaning Apparatus with Liquid Delivery System

Optionally, a surface cleaning apparatus 100 that is configured as ahand held surface cleaning apparatus may also include a liquid deliverysystem for delivering liquid to the surface to be cleaned. In suchembodiments, the hand held cleaning apparatus may include any suitableliquid reservoir apparatus 162, delivery nozzle 164, actuator (such as aswitch 448) and the like.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 64A the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100 is illustrated with an optional liquid reservoirapparatus 162 (which may be provided at the front end of the hand heldsurface cleaning apparatus 100) and deliver nozzle 164 that is providedat the front end of the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100,adjacent the inlet conduit 390 (inlet conduit 390 may extend throughreservoir 162. In this configuration, the liquid delivery system may beremovable from a wand 125 and carryable with the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100, and may be used when the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100 is used for above floor cleaning and the like.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 66A-66C, the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100 may be configured so that the liquid deliverysystem, or at least the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 and deliverynozzle 164, may be provided on the surface cleaning head 102 that isconfigured to be used in combination with the hand held surface cleaningapparatus 100 and rigid extension wand 125. In this arrangement, theweight of the liquid reservoir apparatus 162 can be supported by thesurface cleaning head 102, which may reduce the weight felt by the usermanipulating the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100. The actuatorfor controlling the liquid delivery system, such as the switch 448, maybe provided on the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 (as shown inFIGS. 66A and 64) or alternatively, a switch or other such actuator maybe provided on the surface cleaning head 102, such as shown by optionalswitch 448 shown in FIGS. 66B and 66C. Optionally, the switch 448 on thesurface cleaning head 102 may be configured as a foot-actuated lever,button or the like such that at use can trigger the liquid deliverysystem using her foot.

Any of the embodiments of the liquid delivery systems described hereinmay be used in combination with any of the hand held cleaningapparatuses described herein.

Recline Limiter System

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, an apparatus 100 may include arecline limiter system that can be used in upright-style surfacecleaning apparatuses to help limit degree of inclination of the uprightsection of the apparatus. These recline limiter systems may be used incombination with any of the other features and/or aspects of the surfacecleaning apparatuses described herein, including any of the dual stagetreatment units, single stage treatment units, liquid reservoir units,surface cleaning heads, apparatuses with openable fluid flow paths,above floor cleaning mode(s) and/or lift away configurations, and mayalso utilize features described in relation to embodiments of the handheld surface cleaning apparatuses.

In upright embodiments, the treatment unit 130, and specifically theliquid collection container 148, may be provided on the movable, uprightsection 116 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. In such embodiments,it may be desirable in some instances to limit how much the uprightsection 116 is inclined when the apparatus is in use, as the farther theupright section 116 is inclined the chances of unwanted liquid flowingback into the separator, and then to the suction motor, may increase,and/or the efficiency and functionality of the treatment unit 130(including a cyclonic separator and/or a momentum separator or thelike).

Optionally, the desired degree of inclination may be based on theoperating mode of the apparatus, and/or the presence or absence ofliquid in the liquid collection container 148. For example, the uprightsection 116 may be permitted to recline to a first position whenoperating in a dry, vacuum mode, but may be limited to a smaller amountof recline to a second position when operating in a wet pick-up orextractor mode, or if liquid is being held in the liquid collectioncontainer 148.

The recline limiter system may include mechanical components,electrically actuated components and a combination of both, includingone or more blocking members that can be triggered/deployed to inhibitrearward inclination of the upright section 116 beyond a particularrecline angle. The recline limiter system may be automaticallycontrolled, for example based on the inclination or position of theupright section 116 or the presence of moisture, and/or may be manuallyengagable by a user.

Referring to FIG. 43, portions of one embodiment of a surface cleaningapparatus are shown having a recline limiter system 330 that can beengaged when the upright section 116 reaches a pre-determined reclineangle threshold, i.e. when the recline angle 332 (FIG. 44) reaches apre-determined value, such as about 45 degrees, about 30 degrees, about22 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 15 degrees or about 10 degrees fromthe floor. When using the apparatus 100 in an extractor mode (i.e. tosuck up liquids), the recline angle may be limited to about 22.5degrees.

In this embodiment, the recline limiter system 330 includes a deployableblocking member in the form of a movable pin 334 that is mounted to theupright section 116 that can be inserted into a corresponding slot 336on the surface cleaning head 102 (or the location of the pin 334 andslot 336 can be reversed). The pin 334 is biased using a suitablebiasing mechanism, such as spring 338, such that when the uprightsection 116 reaches the predetermined recline angle 332, the pin 334 isaligned with and is extended into the slot 336 (FIG. 44) by the springthereby inhibiting further reclining of the upright section 116 isinhibited. The spring may be set to automatically deploy the pin 334when the unit is reclined to a set angle. Alternately, a user may beable to adjust the mechanism (e.g., the apparatus is being used only asa vacuum cleaner) so that the spring will not deploy the pin 334 (e.g.,the spring may be disengaged from pin 334).

Referring to FIGS. 45 and 46, in another embodiment the recline limitersystem 330 can include a controller 340, instead of the spring 338. Inthis embodiment, the controller 340 can activate the locking pin 334when a recline limiting event occurs which causes controller 340 toreceive a recline limiting signal. For example, the controller caninclude a mode detector (e.g., a manually operated switch or a useractuates the liquid delivery system, or if the cleaning solutiondelivery system has been actuated or used by a user during a givencleaning session) that that can determine if the treatment unit 130 isbeing operated in a vacuum (i.e. dry only) or extractor mode (suctioningliquid). Alternately or in addition, the recline limiting system mayalso include an inclination sensor 314 (FIG. 46) to determine therecline angle of the upright section 116, a liquid level sensor for thereservoir 148 (e.g., a float switch, a moisture sensor in the reservoir148) to determine the liquid level in the reservoir and/or a moisturesensor to determine if the apparatus is or has been used to extractwater. The inclination sensor 314 (FIG. 46) may be integrated into thecontroller 340 as shown, or provided in a separate location if desired.A reclining limiting signal may be issued if, e.g., the inclinationsensor detects that the upright section 116 has been reclined to acertain angle, the inclination sensor detects that the upright section116 has been reclined to a certain angle and a liquid level sensordetermines that a predetermined amount of water is in the reservoir 148,a moisture sensor determines that the apparatus has or is being used tocollect liquid, the inclination sensor detects that the upright section116 has been reclined to a certain angle and a moisture sensordetermines that the apparatus has or is being used to collect liquid,the inclination sensor detects that the upright section 116 has beenreclined to a certain angle and a mode sensor determines that the unitis being used as an extractor, or a mode sensor determines that the unitis being used as an extractor. If the controller 340 receives a reclinelimiting signal from a sensor, it may automatically deploy the lockingpin 334 so it engages the slot 336 when the upright section 116 isreclines to a predetermined angle (the recline limit angle) that alignsthe pin 334 with the slot 336, or when the controller 340 receives asignal from the inclination sensor 314 that corresponds to when theupright section 116 reaches the pre-determined recline limit (e.g. arecline angle of about 22.5 degrees).

Alternatively, if the controller 340 determines that the apparatus 100is operating in a dry, vacuum-only mode, (for example if the cleaningsolution delivery system has not been actuated) the controller 340 maynot activate the locking pin 334, thereby permitting further recliningof the upright section 116 (past the extractor mode recline limitangle).

The liquid fill sensor may operate with the controller 340 to monitorthe amount of liquid in the liquid collection container 148 and comparethe current amount to a pre-determined recline liquid threshold amount.The controller 340 may then be operable to restrict the reclining of theupright section 116 if the liquid collection container 148 is filled toa level where backflow of the liquid may be likely—optionally,regardless of the current operating mode of the apparatus 100.

As exemplified in FIGS. 47 and 48, the recline limiter system 330includes a liquid level sensor, such as a moisture sensor 342 that canissue a water detection signal upon detecting water. Optionally, asdiscussed previously, the recline limiter system 330 may include both amoisture sensor 342 and an inclination sensor 314 (as shown in FIGS. 47and 48), and the controller 340 can be operable to limit the recliningof the upright section 116 based on the signals issued from the moisturesensor 342, the inclination sensor or both.

Optionally, the recline limiter system 330 may also include a userfeedback apparatus, such as a light, display screen, audible transduceror speaker and the like, to alert a user then the reclining of theupright section 116 has been limited, and optionally identifying thereason for such limitation. For example, the controller 340 in theembodiment of FIGS. 45 and 46 includes a user feedback apparatus thatcan alert a user, via a light, that reclining of the upright section 116has been limited because the treatment unit 130, and/or overallapparatus, is operating in an extractor mode or that the liquidcollection container 148 is holding too much liquid to allow furtherreclining. As exemplified, the sensor 342 may be positioned toward theupper end, and toward the rear side of the liquid collection container148 where it may detect the liquid flowing along the rear wall as thetreatment unit 130 is reclined (moving from the position of FIG. 47 tothe position of FIG. 48). The sensor 342 can provide feedback to thecontroller 340, and may be used in combination with any other suitablecontroller features, including the mode detection apparatus, userfeedback apparatus and angular position sensor. In the embodimentsutilizing a controller 340 or the like, the pin 334 may be driven usinga solenoid 315 (as shown in FIGS. 47 and 48) and/or any other suitablemechanical or electro-mechanical driving mechanism.

While some other operating components of the surface cleaning apparatus100, such has the treatment unit 130, are shown schematically in FIGS.43-48, the particular configuration of the surface cleaning apparatus100 that incorporates the recline limiter system may differ in differentexamples, and may include upright-type surface cleaning apparatus (suchas that shown in FIGS. 1-4), a hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100connected to an elongate wand section (such as the embodiments shown inFIGS. 64-66).

While using a blocking member, such as pins 334, is one example of amechanism that can be used to inhibit movement of the upright section,other embodiments of the recline limiter system 330 may include othertypes of limiting mechanisms. For example, the recline limiter system330 may include intermeshing gears on the upright section 116 andsurface cleaning head 102 that rotate with each other as the uprightsection 116 is reclined. The recline limiter system 330 may be able tolock or otherwise impede rotation of one at least one of the gears inresponse to a control signal (or physical actuator) to inhibit furtherrotation of the upright section 116 relative to the surface cleaninghead 102. In other embodiments, the upright section 116 may include arotor that rotates with the upright section 116, and the recline limitersystem 330 may include caliper or other such apparatus that can beactuated to engage and prevent rotation of the rotor (e.g. a disc braketype system), thereby inhibiting movement of the upright section 116.

In another embodiment, a rearwardly extending groove may be providedinstead of a slot 336. Accordingly, the pin 334 may be deployed onto thegroove as soon as a condition is detected which causes the pin 334 to bedeployed. Alternately, the pin 334 may be deployed into a rearwardlyextending groove at all times and only withdrawn from the groove if thecontroller 340 does not detect an incline limiting event as a user movesto recline the unit past the recline limit.

Mode Control System

Optionally, as an alternative to limiting the reclining of the uprightsection 116, or in addition thereto, the apparatus 100 may be configuredso that its operating modes are restricted when the upright section 116is in a given orientation or moves past a given orientation. Forexample, controller 340 may be configured to both detect and optionallycontrol the operating mode of the apparatus 100, and/or automaticallyshut off the suction motor 124 to help prevent liquid damage to thesuction motor 124 upon receipt of a signal.

Optionally, the embodiments of FIGS. 45-48 may utilize a controller 340that can automatically switch the apparatus 100 from an extractor or wetpick-up mode, to a dry, vacuum only mode or shut the apparatus off whenthe upright section 116 reaches the pre-determined recline angle or ifanother recline limiting event discussed previously occurs. This mayinclude alerting the user, modifying the operation of the suction motoror other components, changing the air flow path, changing the operationof the surface cleaning head, deactivating the cleaning solutiondelivery system (to limit the dispensing of liquids) and the like.

The user feedback apparatus may be used to communicate this informationto the user, and inform the user why the wet mode functionality isrestricted or why the apparatus has switched off. It may also,optionally, prompt the user to raise the upright section 116 if the userwould like to resume wet mode operations.

In accordance with this aspect, an auto shut off system (which includescontroller 340) can be configured so that the controller 340 willautomatically turn off the suction motor 124 upon the occurrence of arecline limiting event (e.g., prior to the upright section 116 recliningto a position at which recovered water contained in the liquidcollection container 148 will flow back and enter the separator, e.g.cyclone chamber 142, or reach the suction motor 124).

In some embodiments, such as a hand held apparatus, which may be mountedon a wand 125 as the embodiments shown in FIG. 66C), the auto shut offsystem may be actuated in more than one range of motion. As exemplifiedin FIG. 66c , if wand 125 or the hand held apparatus when disconnectedfrom wand 125 is pivoted rearwardly to the predetermined recline angle332 the mode control system may automatically turn-off and/or inhibitactivation of the suction motor 124. In this embodiment, an inclinationsensor 314 maybe provided in the hand held surface cleaning apparatus100 and may be operable to control the operation of the suction motor124.

Optionally, it may also be desirable to limit the operation of thesurface cleaning apparatus 100 when it is in a storage position (such asshown in FIG. 66B) and optionally until the upright section 116 has beenreclined to a minimum floor cleaning angle, such as angle 462 measuredfrom a vertical reference axis (FIG. 66C). That is, in the embodiment ofFIG. 66C, the hand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be configuredsuch that the suction motor 124 is rendered inoperable (i.e.automatically shut off or cannot be actuated) until the upright sectionis pivoted rearwardly past the minimum floor cleaning angle 462, and theinclination sensor 314 issues a corresponding inclination signal. Thehand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 may then be usable in eitherthe wet or dry operating modes until it reaches the predeterminedrecline angle 332.

If a recline limiting event has occurred, e.g., the hand held surfacecleaning apparatus 100 has been used for wet cleaning (for example if awater detection signal has been produced by moisture sensor 342) thesuction motor 124 may be automatically shut off when the upright section116 reaches the predetermined recline angle 332 (e.g., when aninclination signal is issued by the inclination sensor 314).Alternatively, if a recline limiting event has not occurred (e.g., thehand held surface cleaning apparatus 100 has not been used for wetcleaning, for example if moisture has not been detected by moisturesensor 342) the hand held cleaning apparatus 100 may continue tooperated when the upright section 116 reaches and/or passes thepredetermined recline angle 332.

On Board Power Supply

In accordance with another aspect, which may be used with one or more ofthe other aspects disclosed herein, the surface cleaning apparatus 100may include an onboard power supply, such as in the form of a batterypack 168 and can be operated as a cordless apparatus (see for exampleFIG. 9). The battery pack 168 may be relatively heavy as compared tosome other components in the apparatus 100, and may be positioned towardthe rear of the cleaning unit 120. This may help lower the overallcentre of gravity of the cleaning unit 120 when reclined in the surfacecleaning position. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the battery pack 168 islocated below a liquid reservoir apparatus 162, rearward of the secondcleaning state 134 (i.e. cyclone chamber 142) and above the firstseparator 132.

In order to enhance the operational time of an apparatus 100 whenbattery operated, the apparatus may be configured in one or more of thefollowing ways.

Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus 100, and/or cleaning unit120, can be arranged so that the suction motor housing 126 (containingthe pre-motor filter 160, a pre-motor filter chamber 161 and suctionmotor 124) is immediately downstream from the treatment unit 130,meaning that there are no intervening structures or functionalcomponents of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 positioned in the fluidflow path between with cleaning unit 120 and motor housing 126, otherthan optionally one or more pre-motor filters. Optionally, the firstseparator 132 and second separator 134 may be arranged so that thesecond separator 134 is immediately downstream from the first separator132, such that there are no intervening components in the fluid flowpath between the first and second separators 132, 134. In someembodiments, such as, for example, the treatment unit 130 shown in FIG.7, the second separator 134 may be directly adjacent and/or connected tothe first separator 132, which may help reduce the length of the fluidflow path, and number of turns and changes of direction therein, betweenthe first and second separators 132 and 134. This may help reducebackpressure in the system and/or may help reduce the weight of thetreatment unit 130 by helping to reduce the length of conduits requiredto provide the fluid flow path. Reducing the back pressure enables an onboard power supply to power the apparatus for a longer period of time.

Optionally, the first stage separator or a combined liquid and solidseparator may be in the surface cleaning head. An advantage of such adesign is that the water extracted from a surface need not be raised ashigh and this reduces the power required to operate the apparatus.

Optionally, the cleaning unit 120 may be removably mounted to, e.g., theupright section. In such a case, the first stage momentum separator,which may be in the surface cleaning head (see for example FIG. 13) orthe upper section, may not be removable with the remainder of thecleaning unit. In such a case, battery pack 168 may be used to operatethe cleaning unit as a vacuum cleaner in a portable operating mode.

Optionally, the wand and hose may only be used in an above floorcleaning mode.

The choice of power supply for a given apparatus may be based on avariety of criteria, including suction motor size and powerrequirements, desired run time, desired portability, desired overallweight and the like. While some embodiments are illustrated with batterypacks and others with electrical cords, it is understood that any of theembodiments described herein may be provided with a battery pack, apower cord or optionally both.

What has been described above has been intended to be illustrative ofthe invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by personsskilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theclaims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should not be limited bythe preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadestinterpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a) a surface cleaning headhaving a front end having a dirty fluid inlet; and, b) an uprightsection moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the uprightsection moveable between an upright storage position and a reclinedsurface cleaning position, the upright section comprising a front side,a rear side, a first stage liquid separator having a liquid separatorfluid inlet downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid separatorfluid outlet, a second stage cyclone separator comprising a cyclonechamber having a cyclone chamber fluid inlet and a cyclone chamber fluidoutlet and a suction motor downstream from the second stage cycloneseparator, the suction motor having a suction motor inlet end, whereinthe cyclone separator is positioned above and downstream from the firststage liquid separator when the upright section is in the storageposition.
 2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst stage liquid separator comprises a momentum separator.
 3. Thesurface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suction motor ispositioned above the cyclone separator.
 4. The surface cleaningapparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid separator fluid outlet ispositioned at an upper end of the liquid separator and the cyclonechamber fluid outlet is positioned at an upper end of the cyclonechamber and the suction motor inlet end faces towards the cyclonechamber fluid outlet.
 5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4,wherein the liquid separator fluid inlet is provided in a lower surfaceof the liquid separator.
 6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4,wherein the second stage cyclone separator comprises a dirt collectionchamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and the cyclone chamber has adirt outlet at an upper end of the cyclone chamber.
 7. The surfacecleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein, when the upright section is inthe storage position, at least a portion of the dirt collection chamberis positioned at a same elevation as a separated liquid reservoir of theliquid separator.
 8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a fluid passage from the liquid separator fluid outlet to thecyclone chamber fluid inlet, wherein at least a portion of the fluidpassage that extends upwardly when the upright section is in the storageposition is located at the front side of the upright section.
 9. Asurface cleaning apparatus comprising: a) a surface cleaning head havinga front end having a dirty fluid inlet; and, b) an upright sectionmoveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the upright sectionmoveable between an upright storage position and a reclined surfacecleaning position, the upright section comprising a front side, a rearside, a first stage liquid separator having a liquid separator fluidinlet downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and a liquid separator fluidoutlet, a second stage cyclone separator positioned downstream from theliquid separator and comprising a cyclone chamber having a cyclonechamber fluid inlet and a cyclone chamber fluid outlet and a suctionmotor downstream from the second stage cyclone separator, the suctionmotor having a suction motor inlet end and a suction motor axis ofrotation, wherein the upright section includes a fluid passage from theliquid separator fluid outlet to the cyclone chamber fluid inlet,wherein at least a portion of the fluid passage that extends upwardlywhen the upright section is in the storage position is located at thefront side of the upright section.
 10. The surface cleaning apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the first stage liquid separator comprises a momentumseparator.
 11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein thecyclone separator is positioned above the first stage liquid separatorand the suction motor is positioned above the cyclone separator.
 12. Thesurface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cyclone separator ispositioned above the first stage liquid separator, the liquid separatorfluid outlet is positioned at an upper end of the liquid separator andthe cyclone chamber fluid outlet is positioned at an upper end of thecyclone chamber and the suction motor inlet end faces towards thecyclone chamber fluid outlet.
 13. The surface cleaning apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the liquid separator fluid inlet is provided in alower surface of the liquid separator.
 14. The surface cleaningapparatus of claim 12, wherein the second stage cyclone separatorcomprises a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber andthe cyclone chamber has a dirt outlet at an upper end of the cyclonechamber.
 15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein, whenthe upright section is in the storage position, at least a portion ofthe dirt collection chamber is positioned at a same elevation as aseparated liquid reservoir of the liquid separator.
 16. The surfacecleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cyclone separator ispositioned above the first stage liquid separator.
 17. The surfacecleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cyclone separator ispositioned overlying the first stage liquid separator.
 18. The surfacecleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the suction motor axis ofrotation intersects the first stage liquid separator and the secondstage cyclone separator.